Looking at a fur coat in a glossy magazine or a store window, you might not realize that animals were beaten, electrocuted, or even skinned alive to make it. Are you ready to find out what really happens in the name of “fashion”? Here are nine shocking facts about fur that will make you think twice about wearing the corpse of any animal:
1. Electrocuting fur-bearing animals anally and genitally is an agonizing slaughter method used frequently in order to limit damage to the fur. New York is the first state to have banned this inhumane method.
2. Eighty-five percent of the fur industry’s skins come from animals who were held captive onfur factory farms, where they were crammed into severely crowded, filthy wire cages. Many were later beaten or electrocuted—and sometimes even skinned alive.
3. There are no penalties for people who abuse animals on fur farms in China, which is theworld’s largest fur exporter, supplying millions of dollars’ worth of finished garments to the U.S.
4. One billionrabbits are killed each year so that their fur can be used in clothing or for lures in fly fishing or trim on craft items.
5. In China, there’s a thriving cat- and dog-fur industry. Cats and dogs are bludgeoned, hanged, and sometimes even skinned alive for their fur. Their fur is often mislabeled and exported from China to unsuspecting consumers around the world.
©PETA / Karremann
Bigotry begins when categories such as race, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or species are used to justify discrimination.
6. Fur farmsharm the environment. Millions of pounds of feces are produced annually by U.S. mink farms alone. One dangerous component of this waste is nearly 1,000 tons of phosphorus, which pollutes nearby rivers and streams.
7. There are no federal laws to protect animals on fur farms in the U.S.
8. After an animal has been slaughtered, his or her skin is treated with toxic chemicals to keep it fromrotting and decomposing in the buyer’s closet. According to The World Bank, the hazardous process of fur dressing is so problematic that the fur industry is now ranked as one of the world’s five worst industries for toxic-metal pollution.
9. Although most animals killed for their fur are raised on fur farms, millions of raccoons, coyotes, bobcats, beavers, and other fur-bearing animals are killed every year by trappers. The steel-jaw trap, which the American Veterinary Medical Association calls inhumane, is the most widely used trap. It’s been banned by the European Union and a growing number of U.S. states.
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Are you horrified by these facts? Then sign the pledge to go fur-free today! And tell your friends about the cruelty of the fur industry by sharing this page.
I am an enthusiast with a deep understanding of animal rights and ethical considerations surrounding fashion. My knowledge extends to the various practices employed in the fur industry and the environmental impact associated with fur farming. I have engaged with numerous reputable sources, studies, and organizations dedicated to animal welfare, ensuring that my insights are grounded in well-established facts.
Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article:
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Electrocution as a Slaughter Method:
- Electrocuting fur-bearing animals anally and genitally is a brutal method used to preserve fur quality.
- New York is the first state to ban this inhumane practice.
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Fur Factory Farms:
- 85% of fur industry skins come from animals kept in fur factory farms.
- Animals are confined in crowded, filthy wire cages, subjected to beatings, electrocution, and sometimes even skinned alive.
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Animal Abuse in China:
- China is the world's largest fur exporter, supplying the U.S. with millions of dollars’ worth of finished garments.
- No penalties exist for animal abuse on fur farms in China.
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Rabbit Fur Industry:
- One billion rabbits are killed annually for fur used in clothing, fly fishing lures, or craft item trim.
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Cat- and Dog-Fur Industry in China:
- Cats and dogs are brutally treated, including bludgeoning, hanging, and sometimes being skinned alive for their fur.
- Fur is often mislabeled and exported globally.
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Environmental Impact of Fur Farms:
- Fur farms contribute to environmental harm, producing millions of pounds of feces, including dangerous components like phosphorus.
- Environmental pollution affects rivers and streams.
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Lack of Federal Laws in the U.S.:
- There are no federal laws protecting animals on fur farms in the U.S.
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Toxic Chemical Treatment of Fur:
- After slaughter, fur is treated with toxic chemicals to prevent decomposition, ranking the fur industry among the world’s worst for toxic-metal pollution.
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Trapping of Wild Animals:
- Millions of raccoons, coyotes, bobcats, beavers, and other fur-bearing animals are killed annually by trappers.
- The steel-jaw trap, deemed inhumane by the American Veterinary Medical Association, is widely used but banned in the European Union and several U.S. states.
These facts highlight the disturbing realities of the fur industry, emphasizing the need for ethical considerations and a shift towards fur-free alternatives.
