Foxes, minks, and chinchillas need their coats more than we do.
Did you know 100 animals can be killed to make one coat?
100 million animals are killed for their fur each year. 85% of these animals come from factory fur farms and the rest are trapped in the wild. Animals like minks, chinchillas, raccoon dogs, and foxes are found on factory fur farms. These animals are wild but live their lives in battery cages, unable to live life expressing their natural behaviors causing high amounts of unnecessary stress for these animals and fear towards humans.
These animals understandably develop an array of health disorders ranging from infections, self-mutilation, missing limbs from biting incidents, and open wounds. In order to maintain the pelt of an animal, they are either electrocuted, bludgeoned, skinned alive, or gassed all for the price of fashion.
Not only are animals raised on fur farms treated inhumanely, there are risks of disease spread from the animals to humans. According to Born Free U.S.A., minks on fur farms in Utah and Wisconsin have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 virus — the virus that causes COVID-19 in humans.
Around the globe, many countries have begun enacting legislation or phase out fur farming. Some of these countries are the U.K. (2000), Czech Republic (2019), Netherlands (2023), Norway (2025), Japan (2016), and New Zealand (2013). If you want to learn more about fur farming bans, Fur Free Alliance has great information.
In 2010, the United States created the Truth in Fur Labeling Act which closed a loophole that allowed real fur to go unlabeled if the value of the garment was less than $150. Unfortunately, the United States has not implemented a ban of fur farms. There are approximately 400 fur farms in the U.S. and these farms are the only sector of animal agriculture without federal regulation on how the animals are cared for, housed, or killed.
In 2019, California became the first state to ban the sale of fur which can hopefully create an initiative in other states to do the same.
Fortunately, many designer brands like Gucci, Coach, Michael Kors, Giorgio Armani, Stella McCartney, and Tommy Hilfiger have committed to stop selling fur fashion. Prada has also pledged to go fur-free with its 2020 spring and summer collection after the Humane Society launched a campaign to urge Prada to stop selling fur.
Companies like Macy’s and Bloomingdales will stop selling fur as of February 2021.
The choice is ours to help end this cruelty. We can turn the tide and make fur farms a thing of the past.
Ways we can help end cruelty to fur farm animals:
· You can also help stop fur farming in the United States by signing this petition.
· This petition that calls the United Nations to ban all fur farming.
· I am seeing new clothing companies coming into vogue with cruelty free fashion. Companies like Noize are making winter coats that are warm, functional, fun and most importantly, cruelty-free!
· If you would like to learn more about ways to support humane shopping and stop exploiting animals for fashion, click on the link below;
https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/humane-shopping-guide
References:
https://www.humanesociety.org/all-our-fights/going-fur-free
https://www.humanesociety.org/news/macys-inc-commits-going-fur-free
http://vegetarianstar.com/2010/12/21/obama-signs-truth-in-fur-labeling-ac/
https://www.furfreealliance.com/fur-farming/
https://www.bornfreeusa.org/campaigns/fur-trade/silentsuffering/
