Fur trim/fur coats from dog or cat fur

[DawnStorm]

Someone on another site posted this, but did not provide a site. I know I've seen it, but I couldn't find any reference to it on the UL reference pages. Apparently Burlington Coat Factory was so distressed that they pulled any and all fur/fur lined coats from their racks.
Granted many of our clothes are made in Asian countries, but surely the exporters/manufacturers are well aware of different cultural attitudes regarding dogs and cats in their countries and this one.

[Horse Chestnut]

Originally Posted by DawnStorm

Granted many of our clothes are made in Asian countries, but surely the exporters/manufacturers are well aware of different cultural attitudes regarding dogs and cats in their countries and this one.

Of course they are; that is why they make very sure that no labels mention the use of dog or cat fur.

[llewtrah]

Cat and dog fur tends to come from China. Paul McCartney says he won't ever tour there because of it. It gets labelled as anything other than cat or dog and even masquerades as other things. It is banned in much of Europe.

Even more sickening is when you find out that fur toys made for cats may use leftover cat fur from the garment trade

[ThistleS]

How is this more upsetting than fur made of any other kind of animal?

[Ryda Wong, EBfCo.]

Originally Posted by ThistleS

How is this more upsetting than fur made of any other kind of animal?

Due to the Western conception of companion animals as being more deserving of humane and decent treatment than non-companion animals.

Which is bunk.

I'll be fair. I eat meat. At this point it time, I find it to be the quickest and cheapest way of getting a filling meal. Tuna is .60 a can, and is filling. Ground beef's damned cheap, too. Tofu and other meat substitutes are far more expensive. If I had the leisure, I'd probably go veg. But I realize my own complicity in the oppression of animals.

However, the quickest and cheapest way of getting a warm garmet is not by using animal fur. There is no reason, whatsoever, in the "developed" world, for a garmet to be made of fur (I can see, in certain cultures that are more agrarian, the need for it). No reason. And I'd be just dandy with banning it today.

[llewtrah]

Fur/leather from a food animal is byproduct. The animal got eaten, even if I wasn't the one eating it. What can't be eaten is used in other ways - glue, fertiliser, hide etc. Waste not want not. Fur from any animal killed purely for its fur isn't byproduct and I find that grotesque and unnecessary. I, in common with many cat owners, also consider it inappropriate to give my cats toys that are made from domestic cats that were killed for their fur. I will, however, give them fur or feather from something I - or other people - have eaten (or squirrel tails from roadkill).

[Eddylizard]

The dog /cat fur allegedly from "Asian countries" may well have come from food animals though. Not saying it did, not saying it didn't, but it's possible.

[llewtrah]

Originally Posted by Eddylizard

The dog /cat fur allegedly from "Asian countries" may well have come from food animals though. Not saying it did, not saying it didn't, but it's possible.

It doesn't. The documentary film got shown last year and resulted in outcry. The big issue for me is that the treatment is inhumane. There was a thread on it on the old message board.

[DaGuyWitBluGlasses]

Originally Posted by Ryda Wong, EBfCo.

However, the quickest and cheapest way of getting a warm garmet is not by using animal fur. There is no reason, whatsoever, in the "developed" world, for a garmet to be made of fur (I can see, in certain cultures that are more agrarian, the need for it). No reason. And I'd be just dandy with banning it today.

Artificial garments tend to be more comparable to wool than to fur.

Fur coats of arctic animals really have no comparison for warmth. But the arctic fur industry is needed for many people (Of course this doesn't apply to Cats and most Dogs, or leopards or many other animals used for fur... might apply to the fur of Huskies or Malamutes)

[Eddylizard]

Originally Posted by llewtrah

It doesn't. The documentary film got shown last year and resulted in outcry. The big issue for me is that the treatment is inhumane. There was a thread on it on the old message board.

Fair enough, except I didn't up to your post I've just quoted see any mention of a documentary.

[llewtrah]

Originally Posted by Eddylizard

Fair enough, except I didn't up to your post I've just quoted see any mention of a documentary.

I thought the topic and discussion of the dog/cat fur documentary (and McCartney's refusal to ever tour China as a result) had been done to death on the old message board.

[Eddylizard]

Originally Posted by llewtrah

I thought the topic and discussion of the dog/cat fur documentary (and McCartney's refusal to ever tour China as a result) had been done to death on the old message board.

It's not unreasonable that I could have missed many threads on the old message board. Since this is the first time that has been mentioned, I had no reason to look there. Look call it an honest mistake if you will, but this appeared to be a brand new thread, not a continuance of a discussion over there.

For the most part I don't see any reason to wear fur, except in remote communities (though I did see a documentary about a town in Russia which was said to be the coldest place on earth (-70 in summer) where apparently man-made fibers would simply disintegrate due to the cold.)) But strolling through Maidstone - nope.

ETA I could be wrong on this, but isn't modern fake (nylon) fur pretty good in the look and feel department (in resembling the real stuff)?

[Deepfrydegg]

Originally Posted by llewtrah

Fur/leather from a food animal is byproduct. The animal got eaten, even if I wasn't the one eating it. What can't be eaten is used in other ways - glue, fertiliser, hide etc. Waste not want not. Fur from any animal killed purely for its fur isn't byproduct and I find that grotesque and unnecessary. I, in common with many cat owners, also consider it inappropriate to give my cats toys that are made from domestic cats that were killed for their fur. I will, however, give them fur or feather from something I - or other people - have eaten (or squirrel tails from roadkill).

I am not a fur wearer, but that it more because I can't afford such expensive items.
I have no moral objection(s) to using animals in certain means (food, glue, fertilizer, lucky rabbits-foot, etc.), but I am against animals being killed and used for the "single" purpose thing (quote grotesque and unnecessary. I strongly dislike animal cruelty (there has been some evidence linking dangerous criminals to their childhood behavior of hurting animals.)

However, I have the intense urge slap the extremists upside the proverbial head, though. I shake my head at things like "We are not pet 'Owners,' we are pet 'Guardians.'" I roll my eyes and want to scream anytime I hear of Pam Anderson or other Celeb doing anything for PETA or "Meat is Murder!!!"

I feel there is a middle-ground here. Many acts should be banned as Cruelty (dog-fights, Mink harvesting, "some" animal testing, etc.). But many more are reasonable (in my mind) such as leather, hambugers, ranching for down feathers and angora wool, etc..

I'll get off my soap-box ramble, now.

[inkrose115]

I always thought fur coats were pretty darn ugly as well. But that's an aestheic choice.

I hate extremists of any kind, though I try to avoid being extreme about my um... STRONG dislike of extremist groups of any kind. If you want to turn the leftover remainds of food animals into other products, so be it. But killing any animal just for fur seems kinda silly. Unless you live way up north, ie you're one of the Inuit. Let them eat all the meat they want, it's actually healthy for them. But as for any of you, I'd recommend against eatting meat as a dietary staple, if you can. I am not going to rub it in your face though. It is a cheap filling meal, it just is't healthy. In Philly we can buy from the Amish, which is not expensive and is the only way to get decent produce and meats. In which case at least it's a lot less unhealthy.

There are a lot of good reasons to eat meat as a dietary supplement. But we're omnivores, and we just don't have the bodies of carnivores. If we did, meat wouldn't be as harmful for us as it is in large quanities. Although I think a lot of why it's not good for us has to do with the way its processed on the way from slaughter to supermarket. That doesn't stop me from making meatloaf every month, so I have no right to complain about other peoples dietary habits. Not that I would anyways. I wILL feel obligated to complain about my BIL who eats a 16 oz steak in one sitting. That boy is heading for trouble... and he's an M.D. who says he knows it's bad for him!!!

[Ryda Wong, EBfCo.]

Originally Posted by Deepfrydegg

However, I have the intense urge slap the extremists upside the proverbial head, though. I shake my head at things like "We are not pet 'Owners,' we are pet 'Guardians.'"

TOTALLY OFF TOPIC:

Why does this bother people so much? Boulder is one of the cities that changed to guradian rather than owner. Seems to be a much better, healthier way of dealing with the relationship between humans and companion animals. In addition, it makes it easier for the gov't orgs to step in when pets aren't being cared for....

[Eddylizard]

I always thought fur coats were pretty darn ugly as well. But that's an aestheic choice.

I always thought that the point of a fur coat was supposed to be ostentation. "Observe me pleb, I can afford a fur coat."

[Horse Chestnut]

Originally Posted by Eddylizard

I always thought that the point of a fur coat was supposed to be ostentation. "Observe me pleb, I can afford a fur coat."

In most Western cultures, yes, that is the point. Doesn't mean that it makes anyone look good, though even I will admit that a fur coat does feel good. But they are heavy and don't drape loosely, so they are not very flattering to most figures.

"Does my ass look fat in this fur coat?"

"Why, yes. It does."

[inkrose115]

Originally Posted by Eddylizard

I always thought that the point of a fur coat was supposed to be ostentation. "Observe me pleb, I can afford a fur coat."

I thought it was, I'm warm and comfy and I'M RICH SO Pfffft!!! They not only refuse to flatter figures, but every time I see somewhere wearing them they automatically look about 20 yars older, minimum. I am all in favor for fur lining though, warm and comfy, inside a a jacket that is not a fashion disaster.

Edit: But that's jsut one persons opinion.

[Aimee Evilpixie]

I have to admit, I loooove the feel of cat fur. If my cat would just magically shed her skin every year or so like a snake and have a new coat of fur underneath, I would happily take all the shed fur pelts and sew them together into a big blanket and then roll around on it in my underwear. Cat fur is soft soft soft. So is rabbit fur, for that matter. I won't wear fur, though, because I disagree with killing an animal only for its skin. I do wear leather, because as was said before, I see using the skin of an animal that was killed for food as simply cutting down on waste.

I would consider having a rabbit fur blanket if I could be sure that all the fur came from rabbits that were bred for food, though. I've never tried rabbit, though there are a couple places in town where I could get it. I just doubt that the rabbit fur that is sold in most shops comes from animals raised for food.

[landmammal]

Originally Posted by Aimee Evilpixie

I have to admit, I loooove the feel of cat fur. If my cat would just magically shed her skin every year or so like a snake and have a new coat of fur underneath, I would happily take all the shed fur pelts and sew them together into a big blanket and then roll around on it in my underwear. Cat fur is soft soft soft.

I agree. My roommate's kitty is a Maine Coon mix named Rajah and when I die I want it to be with my face resting on his warm fuzzy belly. I always talked about how I want a Rajah fur jacket and then my roommate found these people, who will take all the hair you've brushed out and spin it into yarn. It wouldn't technically be "fur" but yarn made from cat hair is supposed to be really soft (I guess like cashmere) and they say it's up to 80% warmer than wool. I'm trying to collect enough to make a scarf. Uh-oh, I think I'm officially crazy cat lady now! :o

I would consider having a rabbit fur blanket if I could be sure that all the fur came from rabbits that were bred for food, though.

AFAIK, angora rabbits are brushed instead of being killed for their fur. I don't know what kind of conditions they're kept in, though.