SAD>>> how furs are made... :-((((((((((

[mad]

if you're fragile or emotive, please don't watch this movie

http://www.strasbourgcurieux.com/fourrure/four.wmv

very very sad

bye, Marco

 

[pants!]

This appears not to be the US, but I'm sure we get a lot of fur imports so that's not an argument.

The method of slaughter appears barbaric (whipping the heads against the ground), and the animals appear to be conscious for some time as various body parts are cut up. This is certainly cruel.

It is important to note that any method of slaughter will appear barbaric to those not accustomed to animal slaughter, but the actual slaughter needs to be quick and relatively painless.

Anything that happens after the animal is killed is pointless to show and is being shown only for dramatic gross-out "EWW!" effect so that's pure propoganda.

The important question is what is the most humane way to slaughter these animals. The method shown here is clearly inhumane as it leaves the animal alive for quite some time. It is up to us to outlaw this method of slaughter, wherever it occurs, and mandate more humane slaughtering methods.

I'd be curious to hear if this is "standard practice" anywhere or if these guys are some renegade fur operation out of some third-world nation or something.

(Indeed it's also a question of whether the slaughter of an animal strictly for its fur is ethical or not, but I think that's another discussion entirely as clearly worldwide laws indicate it is perfectly legal.)

 

[MikeC]

Is not a thread like this political in nature?

 

[pants!]

Is not a thread like this political in nature?

I dunno.. maybe questions of legality and lawmaking are... but fur-making itself, while often hotly debated in political terms, is simply fur-making and animal ethics, not politics. If the mods think it's political though I guess they'll take it down..

 

[Louie]

Yes indeed it's important to focus on the issues around animal welfare and not to become embroiled in an emotive discussion about poor fluffy dogs.

It's clear that in this particular instance, the methods were cruel and wouldn't be supported by most people. I don't understand why the animals were being skinned alive. Wouldn't the task be easier and more economical if they were dead? Was this a rogue fur trader used by this particular organisation? Who knows.

As consumers, we can only vote with our wallets but we run into the difficulty of knowing where the fur trim on our Gap parka comes from.

 

[cmt489]

I normally have a pretty strong stomach for this kind of stuff and had to stop watching. Without getting into the politics of fur, don't fool yourself into thinking that the end result of the killing methods are much different in North America. Just as the "head bashing" is intended to kill then animal, many animals in North American slaughter houses are also still alive when the "processing" begins. While I cannot vouch for the validity of the videos I have seen, there are accounts of cattle being on meat hooks and struggling. Sometimes the electric shock doesn't work or the bullet does not kill.

And as for the origin of the fur collar on that coat, don't forget a few years back fur collared coats from Burlington Coat Factory were traced back to being made from dog and cat fur in Asia.

 

[Wristshot]

With all due respect, we must remember that it may not be appropriate for us to judge others by our "standards". While we can personally say that this is appalling and barbaric etc, it may be perfectly natural to other cultures and other peoples. If this was occurring in the US of A, then some laws have been broken, but since it appears that it was in another country, we don't know whether any laws were broken.

In some cultures eating of dogs and cats and monkeys is perfectly normal and accepted, while we would be outraged and incensed at the mere thought.

In a third world situation, a bullet or an electric prod may not be economically viable. While we may be repulsed by the head bashing, it may be the most efficient and economical method available to these individuals.

I can't say for certain, but this does not appear to be a "hidden video" so it would appear that the people doing the skinning aren't trying to hide what they are doing, and they may not believe that they are doing anything "wrong".

Ever seen how fish are killed and cleaned here in the US? Ever seen how a catfish is cleaned? How different is that? Are lobsters "humanely" killed in the US, or would that be considered "barbaric"?

Believe me, I am repulsed by the video, and while I have not had any desire to have any real fur items, this would make me even less likely to support any fur trade. I just think that we need to consider more than just what we think is right or wrong. I certainly would wish that they could find less cruel methods to accomplish their tasks, but it is not my place to impose my beliefs. Of course if the demand dried up, there would not be a need to supply the fur.

W

 

[pants!]

Wristshot, did you watch the video?

There are several very graphic shots of them ripping the skin off the animal while it is still quite conscious, and some shots of the animal after the skin has all been removed where it is still breathing and moving. The guys don't even seem to notice.

This is unacceptable, period.

If the "head bashing" resulted in animals that are quickly slaughtered, and the cutting off of limbs and removal of skin occurred after the animal were slaughtered, that's a completely different issue.

 

[cmt489]

Just because something is perfectly natural in another culture, does not mean that we should respect what is being done.

What about countries that commit atrocities upon humanity? Should we accept that behaviour? I don't think we would sit back and accept a country allowing stonings of women, denying them education or committing female infanticide now would we? On the other hand, in the face of outright cruelty and abuse, we should be willing to accept it due to the fact that this abuse is being perpetrated upon an animal?

I'm not commenting on the morals and ethics behind what animals are consumed and the fact that they are being slaughtered, but rather, the means by which that slaughter is being conducted. Whether or not a bullet or electric prode is economically viable is not the point here, but rather, the cruelty displayed.

What is even more disturbing is the fact that it is NOT a hidden video and that the individuals conducting this slaughter are not ashamed of their outright cruelty.

 

[headhunter]

Wow!

I don't consider myself an "animal activist" by any means, but it seems that skinning animals and chopping off their feet while they are still alive is a particularly savage practice.

That was definitely not an easy video to watch.

Christian