Animal Writings

The Humane Society of the United States warns that "many leading retailers—including Bloomingdale's, Neiman Marcus, Lord & Taylor, Dillard's, Saks Fifth Avenue and Yoox.com" are deceiving shoppers by labeling items made with animal fur as "faux fur." The mislabeled items are made from rabbits, raccoons, and raccoon dogs (a type of dog, killed in China for the fur trade).

Read the full story here.

I wouldn't be surprised if the scandal extends further than what has been discovered. At this point I wouldn't trust anything that says "faux fur." Also, be aware that because of a glaring legal loophole, garments selling for less than $150 do not have to state in the label whether they contain real fur.

For those unfamiliar with "fur farms" (also called "fur ranches"), which is where most fur in clothing comes from:

Wild animals who would normally run free are confined to tiny, featureless pens, where they have no opportunity for exercise or natural social behaviors, and where they are denied any chance for discovery, making decisions, or using their minds. Many animals resort to neurotic, self-destructive behaviors. Eventually they slip into "learned helplessness" and essentially give up. Their rich lives are replaced with a miserable existence.

Animals in fur farms are killed by crude and brutal methods, such as anal electrocution or bludgeoning. Numerous investigations show the animals fully alive as their skin is torn off.

Meanwhile, Christmas carols are playing in the department stores that sell the products of this torture.

Labels: fraud, fur