It is currently completely legal to buy and sell cat and dog fur in Canada. Consumers still purchasing fur have no idea they are wearing the skin and fur of animals they consider companions. Even those attempting to make compassionate choices by only purchasing faux fur, may also be paying for cruelty.

Fur and faux fur trimmed hats, gloves and boots are the primary culprits, but The Globe and Mail also reports counterfeit Canada Goose coats have been confiscated and found to contain cat and dog fur.

Current Canadian laws have no label requirement so there is no way for consumers to know exactly what they are buying or the potential cruelty they are funding. Any fur is the product of extreme torture. In the case of cat and dog fur, it is usually a by-product of the cat and dog meat trade.

Canada is now attempting to address this, and other lenient animal welfare laws, with the Modernizing Animal Protections Act. Along with banning cat and dog fur, it would also ban shark fin imports and strengthen animal abuse laws.

While the United States currently bans cat and dog fur, there aren’t enough measures in place to enforce the ban. As we recently reported, many products imported from China and Vietnam often contain the skin and fur of cats and dogs, often not labeled, or mislabeled, as faux fur. If you haven’t yet signed our letter demanding the United States of America Federal Trade Commission take action, please do so now here.

The fur industry is a vile industry. No animal, regardless of species or relationship with humans, should suffer and die to be made into a garment or product. Hopefully, the idea of wearing a cat or dog will shock, horrify and open the eyes of those still participating in the fur industry.

Read more here and here.