IN DEFENSE OF ANIMALS REACHES LOS ANGELES HOLIDAY SHOPPERS ON FUR FREE FRIDAY

CONTACT: Lisa Levinson, Lisa@idausa.org, 415 448 0048; Eric Deardorff, EricD@peta.org; Lola Kay, LAforanimals@gmail.com

IMAGES: http://bit.ly/FurFreeFriday2016

Los Angeles, CA (November 25, 2016) – In Defense of Animals, along with other animal organizations and hundreds of animal activists are today marking Fur Free Friday with three protests across Los Angeles. The tradition began over 30 years ago, and is now the world’s largest annual animal rights demonstration. The event coincides with Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year.

“We are thrilled that so many people, all over the country, are highlighting Fur Free Friday today”, says In Defense of Animals President, Dr. Marilyn Kroplick. “Fur is cruel, barbaric and completely unnecessary, and causes suffering to millions of animals each year. Please ensure it’s faux and leave cruelty out of your closet.”

Fur Free Friday participants in Los Angeles are urging people to shop cruelty-free by avoiding fur and fur-trimmed items in three separate demonstrations: the first at 8:00 a.m. in Santa Monica, the second at 11:00 a.m. in Beverly Hills with a protest march down Rodeo Dr., and the third in Glendale at 4:00 p.m.

Every year, In Defense of Animals coordinates Fur Free Friday with other international and local animal advocacy organizations, featuring hundreds of caring people speaking up for animals on the busiest shopping day of the year.

Eighty-five percent of the fur industry’s skins come from animals on “fur farms.” Rabbits, foxes, mink, chinchillas, and other animals on fur farms spend their entire short lives in tiny, filthy wire cages, until they are killed by bludgeoning, neck-breaking, or anal or vaginal electrocution. The anguish and frustration of life in a cage leads animals on fur farms to self-mutilate, biting at their skin, tails, and feet. Many animals frantically pace and circle endlessly, and some even cannibalize their cage mates.

Trappers kill millions of raccoons, coyotes, wolves, bobcats, and other fur-bearing animals every year for the clothing industry. Trapped animals can die from blood loss, infection, gangrene, predators, or hunters. To kill animals without damaging their fur, trappers strangle, beat, or stomp them to death. Some trapped animals chew off their own limbs attempting to escape.

Fur trim is not a by-product. More than half of all animals killed for their fur are killed specifically for fur trim. The number of animals killed for fur trim is soon expected to overtake the number of animals killed for full-fur garments.

Please shop cruelty-free this holiday season by avoiding all items made from fur or animal skins.

For more information, please visit www.furkills.org and https://www.facebook.com/events/1470309129662450

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In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization with over 250,000 supporters and a 30-year history of protecting animals’ rights, welfare and habitats through education, campaigns and hands on rescue facilities in India, Africa, and rural Mississippi. www.idausa.org

IN DEFENSE OF ANIMALS • 3010 KERNER BLVD. • SAN RAFAEL, CA 94901 • 415-448-0048