Fur: An industry cruelty
The fur trade is worth billions of dollars, under the influence of China, the world's largest producer, but also of France, at the heart of the luxury industry and which also produces - 200,000 mink which are killed each year.
The reality of the fur industry is the millions of animals that live and die in appalling conditions, sometimes disfigured alive. On farms where they are raised, they are crammed into tight cages, where they go crazy as their basic needs are denied. On the pack ice, seal pups are killed with clubs. And in the streets of China, even dogs and cats that have an owner are not immune.
Pollution related to fur production
Beyond the cruel fate of its victims, the fur industry is also a source of incredible pollution. Producers of nitrogenous and phosphorous liquid manure, "fur farms" pollute surface water and groundwater and release large amounts of ammonia, nitrogen oxide and methane. The treatment of the skins also requires a number of toxic products which are harmful to humans (pentachlorophenol, formaldehyde, chromium VI and heavy metals), to the point that those who work there are likely to develop serious pathologies, such as irritation of the skin, the eyes and even lung cancer. This deadly industry is one of the five most polluting industries in the world!
China:
In China, 125 million rabbits and 75 million mink and foxes are sacrificed each year for their fur. And how many dogs and cats? Without regulations to protect them, besides those resulting from breeding, it is the stray animals, lost, even stolen, whose fur will feed the market, the municipalities even organize raids to get rid of the dogs that become undesirable!
The investigation conducted by One Voice with its local partner ACTAsia revealed the horror of what they are experiencing.
Dogs and cats are hanged, skinned and kicked. They violently twist to free themselves when their skin is torn from their bodies while they are still alive. Their bodies are then launched on the remains of previous victims. Some of them were observed still struggling to breathe, for long and unbearable minutes.
Faced with such practices, One Voice launched the Fur Free China campaign in partnership with ACTAsia. With the support of millions of Chinese citizens, celebrities, and retailers, we are raising awareness to drive changes in practices and regulations. One Voice also funds ACTAsia's "Caring for Life" an education program, which teaches thousands of children respect and compassion for all animals. Since 2012, more than 60 events and outreach activities have been organized across 16 provinces of the country.
58%
200 000
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A One Voice investigation in 6 French mink farms
In January 2017, One Voice revealed in an unpublished report the results of the survey conducted in 6 mink farms in France: their suffering is beyond doubt. None of their needs, neither physiological nor behavioural, are satisfied.
Mink are semi-aquatic animals, solitary and territorial. They spend their days looking for food, diving and exploring their surroundings – in up to 3 kilometres of water.
But in the farms where they are locked up they are "stored" on occasion for considerable time, in tiny cages piled one on top of another. The floors of their wire cages are painful to their feet and legs, and where also there is nothing to do. For food, a meaty porridge is placed on the roof of the cage...
The miserable conditions of life and death for mink
Some farms visited by our investigators were found to be particularly dilapidated. Under the cages, untreated faeces had accumulated posing an environmental hazard. Our investigators even observed corpses lying around! On top of the cages, leftover food was rotting. And within them, mink that have gone crazy, showing stereotypical behaviours, multiply toing and froing accompanied constant head movements, leaving no doubt about their stress and boredom.
The end of their ordeal will be that of their killing, seized brutally and thrown into a container to be asphyxiated, not always with the expected result. Our investigators were able to film some who, in a last burst of hope had tried to escape ... only to be caught by a dog.
