In a move that could finally spell the end of this cruel industry in Norway, the Labour Party voted for the phasing out of fur farms in that country. This is wonderful news for animal advocates everywhere. If indeed this comes to pass, this means one less country engaging in the cruel practice of fur farming, and one more step towards finally making fur a thing of the past.
Awareness of the cruelty involved in fur farming is becoming more mainstream as various undercover investigations and independent inspections have revealed the truth of the horrible lives endured by these innocent animals. It's encouraging to hear that these representatives believe phasing out these farms is the right thing to do, after realizing that it is cruel beyond comprehension and so unnecessary.
We have all kinds of alternative faux fur and there is no need to rip the skin from a helpless animal in order to make fur garments. Did you know it takes anywhere from 35 to 65 animals to make one mink coat? Just one coat! So many lives lost, and for what? Most people when faced with a blind choice between faux and real fur can't tell the difference. Both are soft and elegant and both will keep a human just as warm, but the faux fur doesn't involve immense suffering and painful death in order to exist.
The Labour Party cast their vote during their convention this past week. (Use Google Translate to view the page in English.) This was after the Network For Animal Freedom conducted a series of independent inspections of various fur farms around the country, exposing the terrible living conditions and horrible methods of killing these innocent animals. Videos of the 2008 and 2009 inspections show the horror, and should not to be viewed by anyone squeamish. Mercy For Animals has been waging war on this practice for a long time, and you can read their description of these "farms" and the natural desires of these animals at their site as well. While those wishing to keep the industry alive have vowed to fight this decision, at least this is a sign of forward-thinking progress and gives hope to the activists who have fought so long and hard for change.
Mink, fox and other small animals "farmed" for their fur have very intricate social lives. Some instinctually desire to live alone, and yet they are crammed into wire mesh cages with others, causing severe stress. While in these living conditions bites occur, which are given no veterinary care so the bites become infected in the filth of the cages, and cause misery for the animal. Cannibalism abounds due to starvation and "cage psychosis". Pups are killed, limbs are lost, and the entire operation is complete and utter misery. For the ones that survive, death comes by way of anal or vaginal electrocution or gassing. This is in order to preserve the pelts, but there is no concern for the suffering of the animals in these barbaric practices.
Please make the compassionate choice and don't buy fur. (Other unrelated investigations have shown that fur trim on many garments and trinkets in our country today come from cats and dogs from China. But, that's a story for another day.)
Please, if you feel you must have that look of fur, make certain it’s faux fur. Read the labels carefully. Think about the animals who are forced to endure so much suffering only to then die a horrible death, all in name of human vanity. Their lives matter, too, and they need their skin to survive.
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