Guest guest Posted May 8, 2003 Report Share Posted May 8, 2003 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3009537.stm Last Updated: Thursday, 8 May, 2003, 06:31 GMT 07:31 UK Cats 'farmed for skins in EU' By Tim Franks BBC correspondent in Brussels BBC News has seen evidence which suggests that cats are being farmed for their skins in the European Union. It is thought that tens of thousands, possibly hundreds of thousands of cat and dog skins are traded in Europe each year. Campaigners say that now is the time for national governments or the European Commission to act. Europe, it seems, is a magnet for cat and dog fur. Cat blankets, so the aficionados say, are good for rheumatism and dog pelts are, according to campaigners, often labelled misleadingly and sold as the fur of some exotic, even mythical beast. Since the US has banned the trade of cat and dog skins, the European market has expanded. A video seen by BBC News shows one Belgian furrier displaying a blanket he says was made from cats farmed in Belgium. What's more, he says that stray cats and dogs are rounded up and skinned. That would seem to contradict the assertion from the officials who help run the EU at the European Commission that there is no cat or dog farming inside the union. The Commission says that a ban on the trade is not really in their power - it would be better left to national governments. So far, though, only Italy has brought in such a ban. ENDS... -- Dave Neale Animals Asia Foundation Find out more about the historic China Bear Rescue by visiting the Animals Asia Foundation website at http://www.animalsasia.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.