Animal rights within the Fashion Industry

Would you harm your pet for a jacket?

Would you skin your pet for a bag?

Would you kill your pet for Fashion?

I'm sure the answer to those three questions are NO! So why are so many animals being harmed in the Fashion industry?

Animals have feelings, lives and the right to live. Just like you!

Over 75 million animals are killed each year for their fur and skins including: foxes, seals, minks and dogs. With a staggering 1 Billion rabbits alone being slaughtered as part of the fur trade industry. With a horrific number like this surely that fur coat isn't worth it? 

How can you put on that fur jacket or those snake skin boots knowing that it was once part of a living animal? You may think that it's okay to wear it because it was made after the animal died but you are wrong. That item of clothing was made out of pure hatred for the animal kingdom. That animal was slaughtered for you to wear the clothes.

China is the worlds largest animal skin supplier. As they have no law that protects the rights of animals they are tortured, beaten and slaughter in small cages where they watch others die before them. 

In many cases items marked as 'faux fur' or 'synthetic' can actually be made from real fur, usually cat or dog. As these animals are either stray, stolen or used for meats in Asian countries they are considered a cheap source for clothing. With a staggering 100 animals being killed for a single faux fur coat!

Fur Farms:

These animals are bread and raises on fur farms. They are kept in tight cramped cages when they should be out in the wild. With foxes and minks being wild animals they do not adapt to life on the farms. This leads to things such as: high-level stress which weakens the immune system causing disease, self-harm due to mental issues and even cannibalism. These animals are usually cross-bread causing mutations in the animal which results in fur colours that are not usually found naturally. 

Traps:

Approximately 10 millions animals are trapped each year for their fur. There are different types of traps used for this method; The Leg-hold trap being the most popular. This trap clamps the leg of an animal leaving them to starve, freeze and be attacked by predators before the human returns to kill the animal. 

Another trap used is the drowning trap. This is used for Aquatic animals such as: mink, beavers and muskrats. The trap clamps the animals legs pulling them towards the bottom of the water as they try to escape. Unfortunately the trap is too heavy for them to pull out the water. The animals can struggles from around 4 minutes - 15 minutes in the water before they die. 

Leather and Sheepskins:

Although many people consider these facts and are now avoiding any fur-related fashion items they still wear animal skins such as leather and sheepskins as they feel it is just a by-product of the meat industry. Although they are 'technically' by-products you are still paying into the slaughter houses where animals are being killed, whether it be for meat or clothes. With the leather industry being a multimillion industry it doesn't rely on the meat industry for it's money. I'm sure you all know what happens in slaughter houses so I don't want to go into the gruesome details.

Why should so many animals die each year for us to follow a trend? We have rights so why shouldn't animals? They are living creatures that we evolved from. We are just the same as them.

Next time you buy a fur coat or a leather bag just think about the industry you are supporting and the lives lost at your cost...

Emma Victoria