In Defense of Animals Works To End The Cruel Fur Trade
Each year over 100 million animals, including millions of dogs and cats, are killed for their fur on fur farms around the globe.
The majority of the fur trade’s skins originate from animals who are confined and killed on fur farms. Millions more animals are victims of trapping; caught in the wild using spring traps with metal teeth that smash bone and tear muscle.
Animals are killed for the fur trade in extremely horrific ways. Bludgeoning, neck-breaking, and anal and genital electrocution are common.
Many are skinned alive.
Consumers need to know the incredible amount of suffering and devastation represented in each piece of fur. This cruelty and the fur trade in general will end only when consumers refuse to buy or wear animal fur of any kind.
Fur Farms
Rabbits, foxes, mink, chinchillas, and other animals on fur farms spend their entire short, miserable lives in tiny, filthy wire cages. 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. Parasites and disease are prevalent on fur farms due to the deplorable and overcrowded conditions.
In the United States, there are no federal laws providing protection for the millions of animals who suffer and die on fur farms. The fur industry remains completely self-regulated.
Dogs and Cats
Each year, over two million dogs and cats are victims of the fur trade. The majority of them are killed intentionally in Asia for their fur, but some are also injured and killed in traps set for other animals. Dog and cat fur is often deliberately mislabeled as fur from other species and is exported to countries throughout the world to be sold to unsuspecting customers.
There are no penalties for abusing animals on fur farms in China, which is the world’s largest fur exporter. China supplies more than half of the finished fur garments imported for sale in the United States.
Fur Trim
Fur trim is not a by-product. Many, perhaps more than half of all animals killed for their fur, are killed specifically for fur trim. Sales of traditional full-length fur coats have declined. As a result, furriers have shifted toward an emphasis on fur trim to keep themselves in business. Fur-trimmed items are widely available, and in many cases, are not labeled as fur.
What We Do
In Defense of Animals is working to end the fur trade, through campaigning for bans across the country and raising awareness amongst the public about the cruel reality of fur. Some of our victories are below:
Our Victories
- Groundbreaking Animal Victory: California Becomes First-Ever State to End Fur Sales!
- Victory: Fur Trapping in California is Now Banned!
- Activists Parade through San Francisco for Fur Ban Victory!
- VICTORY: Sephora Bans Cruel Animal Fur Eyelashes!
What You Can Do
- Fight fur by signing up for an In Defense of Animals membership
- Get involved in Fur Free Friday, which happens in November every year
- Take action against fur by signing our active alerts
- Educate yourself and others about dog meat by reading our latest fur trade news
100 million
animals are killed every year for fur
2 million
dogs and cats are killed for their fur every year