How many animals are killed globally on fur farms?
Each year, around one hundred million animals are bred and killed to supply the fashion industry with not only traditional fur coats but, increasingly, real fur trim for hooded jackets, and real fur pompoms used on hats, gloves, shoes and a range of other clothing and accessories. It’s estimated that as many as half of all animals raised for their fur are killed to satisfy the market for fur trim.
The industry has seen a decline in recent years, as consumers, retailers, designers turn their backs on real fur, and politicians vote in favour of fur production bans and, increasingly, fur sales bans.
2014: Europe 43.6m, China 87m, North America 7.2m, Russia 1.7m
2018: Europe 38.3m, China 50.4m, North America 4.9m & Russia 1.9m
2021: Europe 12m, China 27m, North America 2.3m & Russia 600,000
(Figures shown are estimates focused on mink, foxes, raccoon dogs, chinchillas and sables. Rabbits and animals trapped for their fur are excluded.)
What about trapping in the wild?
In addition to fur farming, many millions of animals are trapped and killed for their fur in the wild. Most fur from wild-trapped animals comes from the USA, Canada and Russia. In 2018, almost 3 million animals were killed for their pelts by trapping in North America, including 647,000 raccoons and 363,000 coyotes. Traps inflict great pain and anguish, both to the target animals and to unintended victims such as pets and endangered species.
Often left for days, unable to seek shelter, food or water, these animals can cause serious injury to themselves in an attempt to escape. When the trappers finally arrive, they will often stomp or beat the animals to death.
Have any countries banned fur farming?
Yes, over the past two decades, 24 countries have either voted to ban the practice, have prohibited the farming of particular species, or have introduced stricter regulations that have effectively curtailed the practice. The Canadian province of British Columbia has also banned the farming of mink for their fur. Several other countries, including Romania, are also discussing the introduction of bans on fur farming. See the latest list at furfreealliance.com/fur-bans.
Have any countries banned fur sales?
Yes, in 2021 Israel became the first country in the world to ban real fur sales. In the United States, California became the first US state to ban the sale of fur in 2019 (the ban came into effect in January 2023) following similar bans in cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Berkeley and West Hollywood. To date, 12 towns and cities in the United States have banned fur sales and more US cities and states are looking to follow suit in the future. In the UK, the government is considering action on fur sales.
Is fur farming cruel?
Yes. Animals bred for their fur such as foxes, rabbits, raccoon dogs and mink are confined in small, barren, wire cages for their entire lives. Unable to express their basic natural behaviours such as digging, roaming large territories and, for semi-aquatic mink, swimming and diving, these naturally active and curious animals have been shown to display the stereotypical behaviour of mental distress such as repeated pacing and circling inside their cages. Such confined spaces can also result in animals self-mutilating and fighting with their cage mates.
Numerous recent investigations at so-called certified “high welfare” mink, fox and raccoon dog farms in Finland have revealed a catalogue of deplorable conditions and distressing suffering, including over-sized “monster foxes,” animals with open wounds, deformed feet, diseased eyes, and even incidents of mink being driven to cannibalism. HSI recently exposed the conditions suffered by chinchillas on fur farms in Romania , and the plight of baby foxes, mink and raccoon dogs in China.
How are animals on fur farms killed?
When their pelts are at their prime, before they are one year old, the animals are gassed, electrocuted, beaten or have their necks broken. In December 2015 HSI filmed foxes on a Chinese fur farm being beaten to death, and rabbits being given a blow to the head before being shackled from their back legs and their throats cut before being skinned. Instances of raccoon dogs being slammed against the ground then skinned whilst still showing signs of consciousness have also been documented in China.
Increasingly, international designers, brands, department stores and luxury online retailers are turning their backs on cruel real fur. In recent years, Gucci, Prada, Chanel, Moncler, Dolce & Gabbana and Versace have gone fur free, as has well-known former-fur-using brand Canada Goose – to name just a few! By supporting fur-free designers, we can all help to put the business of animal cruelty out of fashion. For a full list, check out the Fur-Free Retailer website at furfreeretailer.com.
Yes, in 2021 Israel became the first country in the world to ban real fur sales. In the United States, California became the first US state to ban the sale of fur in 2019 (the ban came into effect in January 2023) following similar bans in cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Berkeley and West Hollywood.
Yes, in 2021 Israel became the first country in the world to ban real fur sales. In the United States, California became the first US state to ban the sale of fur in 2019 (the ban came into effect in January 2023) following similar bans in cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Berkeley and West Hollywood.
After investigations from around the world showed appalling cruelty in the fur industry—including animals being skinned alive—West Hollywood became the first city to ban fur sales in 2013.
 You also can't deal in elephant or rhinoceros skin or horns. Some cat furs from smaller cats (bobcat and lynx) can be traded within a country, but not internationally, and you'll find that most resellers will refuse to touch anything from a big cat.
Other animals that suffer on fur farms include rabbits, raccoon dogs, and mink. Roughly 100 million of these animals are killed every year for their fur, to be used in coats, shoes, and accessories; about half are killed for fur trim alone.
If you have an old fur coat you haven't worn in years, consider selling it. Depending on the quality, age, fur type, and condition your coat can fetch you top dollar. But get a professional appraisal before you put a price tag on it.
California has become the first US state to ban the sale of new animal fur products. The law, which was introduced in 2019, was implemented on January 1, 2023. It states that no such products can be manufactured or sold across the whole of the Golden State.
There are no federal laws governing the killing of animals on fur farms in the U.S. Instead, the methods used here and around the world are largely chosen based on what will result in the least possible damage to the animals' valuable pelts.
California is the first state to ban fur, but it is following the lead of a number of its own municipalities, including Los Angeles, San Francisco and Berkeley. A variety of countries have banned fur farming, including Serbia, Luxembourg, Belgium, Norway, Germany and the Czech Republic.
Fur farming is inherently inhumane, as wild animals are bred and raised in captivity for our use. Even after generations of hand-raising, these animals are wild in nature. They still have the animal welfare needs of their wild counterparts, which cannot be met on a farm.
Russian sable is still the most prized and expensive fur in the world for its legendary silky quality, rarity and light weight. A little sable jacket starts at about $16,000 and a top quality silvery coat can run upward of $150,000.
In 2017 Gucci sent out a widely publicised press release that the Florentine fashion house would ban fur from its collections. In a statement the company said its new policy underlined a modern and ethical vision for luxury.
Because the fur trade was another major source of wealth, it included people who participated in the enslavement of others. Sometimes, fur traders themselves were enslavers. Some Black fur traders had been slaves, bought, for example, from trading posts with connections to slavery.
The slaughtering of minks is just as horrific as the abuse they endure while they're alive. Minks are subjected to being skinned alive, having their necks snapped, having their throats slit, or being poisoned.
Many Indigenous peoples soon came to depend on the fur trade as their primary source of income and European-manufactured goods. However, by the mid-19th century changing fashions in Europe brought about a collapse in fur prices and led to the closure of several fur companies.
The value of a vintage mink coat depends on a variety of factors, including the condition, size, brand and quality. A small mink coat could sell for under $300 while a top designer coat could sell for over $10,000.
Macy's and its subsidiary, Bloomingdale's, will stop selling fur by February 2021, the company announced on Monday. The new fur-free policy includes all Macy's and Bloomingdale's private brands, as well as items sold from brand partners, according to a press release.
We buy real fur, vintage furs, mink furs, and lynx furs in excellent condition. You will have to pay return shipping if you send any of the above items to us.
The move was surprising in Russia, where fur is a wardrobe staple. Although the country makes up approximately 6 per cent of global luxury spending, it is the world's second largest fur market. (China is the largest.)
The top three fur producers are Denmark (formerly), Poland and China. Finland is the largest United States supplier of fox pelts. The United States is a major exporter of fur skins.
§ 1308, the act prohibits the importation and exportation of any dog or cat fur products into and out of the U.S. More specifically, the act makes it illegal to introduce, manufacture, sell, trade, offer to sell, advertise, transport or distribute dog and cat fur product in the interstate commerce of the U.S. CBP ...
There are plenty of reasons why someone who would never buy a new animal fur item would have no problem wearing a vintage one: It's one of the most sustainable options, a way to follow a “nothing new” model of consumption, and keeping an otherwise forgotten piece of clothing out of a landfill and in use for decades to ...
To preserve the pelts, animals on fur farms are killed by inhumane methods, such as gassing and head-to-tail electrocution. Fox and raccoon dogs are generally electrocuted through the mouth and anus; a method with potential to inflict severe pain and distress on the animal.
Whether it came from an animal on a fur farm or one who was trapped in the wild, every fur coat, trinket, and bit of trim caused an animal tremendous suffering—and took away a life. Each year, approximately 100 million animals are killed for their fur.
Canada Goose, the maker of luxury-priced winter coats, has announced it will no longer use animal fur on its clothing. The firm said it will cease buying fur by the end of this year and stop using it on its products by the end of 2022.
There is nothing “natural” about clothing made from animals' skin or fur. In addition to causing the suffering and deaths of millions of animals each year, the production of wool, fur, and leather contributes to climate change, land devastation, pollution, and water contamination.
Now, if you're thinking of going back to real fur garments instead, we have a bit of bad news to share: Real fur isn't too great for our health and the planet either. Fur “tanning” and “dressing” to preserve fur hairs and follices involve toxic chemicals too.
Animals raised on fur farms receive no protection from humane animal welfare laws or humane slaughter laws, and they experience some of the most horrific living conditions including being packed into crowded cages where they cannot move; live on top of each other in cages; are exposed to scorching heat and freezing ...
Caged fur-bearing animals are killed by inhu- mane methods such as gassing, neck breaking, anal electrocution, and injection with poisons. The U.S. fur industry recommends killing minks with carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide gas.
National codes of practice and certification programs provide assurance that farmed furbearing animals receive excellent care. The standards of care for farmed mink and fox are based on many years of scientific research.
The fur of sheep and lamb, often referred to as shearling or sheepskin, is a by-product of the meat and wool industry and is considered the most common type of fur and one of the most affordable.
Chairman and CEO John D. Idol added, “I am pleased to announce our company's commitment to no longer use animal fur in our Michael Kors and Jimmy Choo collections. This decision marks a new chapter as our company continues to evolve its use of innovative materials.”
“And as a modern luxury brand, I am pleased to confirm today that we have banned the use of exotics in future collections, building on the commitments we made a number of years ago to go fur-free.”
We are excited to share that in partnership with the Humane Society of the United States, Nordstrom has made the decision to stop offering products made with exotic animal skins or genuine fur in any of our stores or online.
Feel the difference by touching the hairs between the finger and thumb. Real fur feels very soft and smooth to touch, easily rolls between fingers. The fake fur is rough to the touch. It may become sticky in wet weather and may have the same feel as a stuffed animal toy.
This bill would require the department to grant access to the system to any tribal the law enforcement agency that employs any peace officer, as specified, and to tribal courts, of a federally recognized Indian tribe meeting certain qualifications, as specified.
In 2006, Japan passed the Invasive Alien Species Act, which restricted the breeding of the non-native species American mink, raccoon, and coypu. The act essentially outlawed fur farming, with all fur farms now closed.
Faunal remains in excavations have confirmed that livestock such as pigs and cows were the principal components of slaves' meat diets. Other sites show remnants of wild species such as opossum, raccoon, snapping turtle, deer, squirrel, duck, and rabbit.
Native Americans traded along the waterways of present-day Minnesota and across the Great Lakes for centuries before the arrival of Europeans in the mid-1600s. For nearly 200 years afterward, European American traders exchanged manufactured goods with Native people for valuable furs.
It takes about 30 rabbit hides to make this kind of jacket. Rabbits are common and easily obtained on traplines and by setting snares around a community. Rabbit skins were used to make blankets and many items of useful clothing for children and adults, such as shirts, leggings, socks, and hoods.
Minks can bite, scratch, claw, make a raspy bark and even spray like a skunk when they feel threatened, but they can also purr like a cat when they are happy and content. Minks have six main predators, bobcats, foxes, wolves, coyotes, owls, and humans.
What Happens to Mink Meat. According to industry-friendly reports, mink bodies are turned into oils, fertilizers, and cosmetic products such as faux eyelashes. Humane Society International has even reported mink meat being sold to unsuspecting diners at restaurants in China.
The strains created by the fur trade sometimes led to brief but violent conflict. Yet the traders and American Indians who exchanged goods and ideas had to meet on peaceful terms in order for the process to take place.
Hearty proteins such as bison, beef and mutton were also popular staples, complemented with butter, cheese and bread. In addition to stiffer drinks, coffee became a favorite fur trade era beverage because its caffeine brought renewed energy to travel-weary traders.
Britain became the master of the fur trade in North America after it took control of New France in the 1760s. The most important fur trading companies were the Hudson's Bay Company and the North West Company (NWC).
Then followed a period of lawlessness in the fur trade of North America. It lasted from about 1789 to 1821. It was in a no man's land beyond the reach of law.
The fur trade was a vast commercial enterprise across the wild, forested expanse of what is now Canada. It was at its peak for nearly 250 years, from the early 17th to the mid-19th centuries. It was sustained primarily by the trapping of beavers to satisfy the European demand for felt hats.
Some of the high-end brands that first made the decision was Ralph Lauren in 2006 followed by Armani 2016, Gucci in 2017, Burberry in 2018, Chanel in 2018, Versace in 2019 and Prada in 2019.
Animal prints have also made a comeback and are desirable in winter coats for women and men this year. A chic leopard print in a fashionable design is a classic in fur coats that stands out from the rest. These are some of the top fashion trends in women's fur coats in 2022.
The peak of the Rocky Mountain fur trade ran for a very short period of time, from 1820 to 1840. This was the time that Americans became more interested in the politics and geography beyond the Mississippi River; it was a time of expansion and experimentation.
The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), chartered 2 May 1670, is the oldest incorporated joint-stock merchandising company in the English-speaking world. HBC was a fur trading business for most of its history, a past that is entwined with the colonization of British North America and the development of Canada.
The Fur Farming (Prohibition) Act 2000 (c. 33) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom to "prohibit the keeping of animals solely or primarily for slaughter for the value of their fur" in England and Wales. It received Royal Assent on 23 November 2000.
The use of animal skins was brought to light during the 1980s by animal rights organizations while the demand for fur decreased. Anti-fur organizations raised awareness of animal welfare issues within the fashion industry.
The first Europeans to purchase furs from Indians were French and English fishermen who, during the 1500s, fished off the coast of northeastern Canada and occasionally traded with the Indians. In exchange, the Indians received European-manufactured goods such as guns, metal cooking utensils, and cloth.
There are an estimated 250 fur farms across 21 U.S. states. In 2021, the U.S. produced 1.44 million mink pelts, worth nearly $60 million. Of those pelts, 579,460 were contributed by Wisconsin, which continues to be the nation's largest mink producer. It is followed by Utah, which accounted for 319,690 pelts.
Far from being a natural resource, fur production is an intensely toxic and energy-consumptive process, with pelts being dipped in toxic chemical soups and animal waste runoff from fur factory farms polluting soil and waterways.
As long as you purchase a good quality fur from a reputable furrier it should last more than long enough to justify the cost. Although the longevity of fur varies from one type to another, a good quality mink coat, with proper care (storage and cleaning every year) can last up to 20 years or more.
A small mink coat could sell for under $300 while a top designer coat could sell for over $10,000. Luxury mink coats were especially fashionable during the 1980s, and during that period a coat of this type could command up to several hundred thousand dollars.
Furs do not tolerate warm temperatures well, as the heat has a tendency to dry out the furs and leather. Moreover, direct exposure to sunlight can cause fading and the fur can become discolored. It is recommended to avoid storing in an attic or in the garage which can be hot, humid, cramped places.
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