FUR-FREE FRIDAY HITS SAN FRANCISCO

In Defense of Animals, Direct Action Everywhere & PETA Lead Annual Worldwide Event

CONTACT: Melissa Flower, In Defense of Animals, 415-533-0133, mflower@idausa.org

IMAGES: http:/bit.ly/FurFreeFriday2016/

San Francisco, CA (November 25, 2016) – In Defense of Animals, Direct Action Everywhere, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and hundreds of animal advocates are today marking Fur-Free Friday with a march and demonstration in and around Union Square. 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 want holiday shoppers to know that each fur item is born of incredible suffering, whether it is a full-length coat, fur lining, trim or an accessory”, says In Defense of Animals President, Dr. Marilyn Kroplick. “We all have the power and responsibility to stop animal cruelty, by refusing to buy or wear fur, angora, leather, wool, down, silk, or any fashion item made by harming animals.”

Hundreds of animal advocates took part in the traditional march through the heart of San Francisco’s shopping district this morning. Protesters’ calls drew attention to millions of animals who are tortured and killed for their coats each year, and asserted all animals right to be safe and free from the horrors of the fur industry.

From noon today, In Defense of Animals’ Fur-Free USA Compassion Ambassadors will be handing out information revealing the cruel truth behind fur and leather items, and urging shoppers to make their shopping choices cruelty-free on Black Friday and beyond.

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 of life in a cage leads animals on fur farms to frantically pace and circle endlessly, self-mutilate, and 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