beautiful animals, ugly people

[Guest guest]

Beautiful animals and ugly people...

 

What do these two groups share in common? Well, beautiful animals and ugly

people wear fur. For a person to wear fur openly demonstrates their financial

success, their perception of their achievement in life, and their ability to

keep up with a fashion trend. It also demonstrates the fact that they care

more about the way they appear to others than anything else, including the

pain and suffering of any life form that they consider inferior.

 

There is some evidence that domestic cat and dog fur is being used to make

fur products, especially those imported. This is not restricted to fur coats,

although there has been the discovery of one coat made from the pelts of 40+

German Shepherd puppies – young fur is softer. It is actually more likely in

the fur trimmings on gloves, bags, jumpers, coats, shoes, boots etc. Not to

mention key rings, purses and even fur cat toys. Wherever a product does not

specify the kind of fur used it could well be cat or dog. Pet fur can also be

trimmed, bleached, dyed and otherwise treated to make it resemble other

species; zebra for example, which, now that they are farmed for food might

seem OK to some. There is no legislation in UK to prevent this and no simple

way of testing as modern fur processing means that its origins are obscured.

Even supposing someone could afford to do DNA testing on every item, this

still may not indicate exactly which type on animal was the original owner of

the fur.

 

These cats and dogs are not usually bred for this purpose, they are rounded

up off the streets, they might be strays, they might just be unlucky to be

out. Remember that it is essential to the producers of such products that the

fur is not spoilt in any way, so the usual way of dispatching them is to stun

and then the arteries under their legs are cut so that they bleed to death,

hopefully unconscious, but this is not considered important. There are other

less pleasant methods, but I’m sure you don’t need me to describe them.

There have been suspicions for some years in the UK Veterinary profession

that pets are rounded up and killed so that their pelts can be exported to be

processed for fur products. Whilst there is, so far as I know, any real

evidence for this it seems somewhat coincidental that a large number of cats

and dogs will disappear, no corpses are found, from a couple of streets

during the course of a couple of days. So, not only can we consider the fear,

distress and pain felt by the animal, we can consider the grief and distress

felt by the elderly person whose only companion has disappeared, or the young

child whose kitten or puppy is suddenly gone.

 

Of course the ‘reputable’ fur trade (if you consider slaughtering an animal

to sell its fur as a fashion statement can be reputable) do state that they

specify the fur type; rabbit, mink, etc. and therefore an item should be what

is claimed on the label. Although if they import the processed fur I wonder

how they can be sure.

 

If you want to live lightly on the land and show your respect for nature and

life, and you still want to wear fur, then can I please ask that you get

yours from the one source that is unlikely to cause distress or pain – the

genuine, rarely seen in the wild let alone domesticated, the nylon! In other

words, fake fur is great fur.

 

Seasons Blessings

Kate West

 

 

 

 

 

 

" Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in awhile,

you could miss it. " -- Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)

 

http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/nixies_place

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

, AnnaJames91@c... wrote:

> Beautiful animals and ugly people...

>

> What do these two groups share in common? Well, beautiful animals and

ugly

> people wear fur. For a person to wear fur openly demonstrates their

financial

> success, their perception of their achievement in life, and their

ability to

> keep up with a fashion trend. It also demonstrates the fact that they

care

> more about the way they appear to others than anything else, including

the

> pain and suffering of any life form that they consider inferior.

 

Ya know, this may be true in some instances, but it certainly isn't the

case where I grew up.

 

I spent most of 2 decades in northern Manitoba, and please believe me

when I tell you that the people who wore fur where NOT financially

successful, nor were they trying to keep up with the latest fashion.

They wore fur because it kept them alive (we had -40 weather for weeks

at a time, and that doesn't take into consideration the wind chill

factor), and because it was available. The average local Cree Indian

family couldn't afford to go to the sporting good store and pay $300 for

a parka, and another $200 for good winter boots. Nope, they wore

traditional winter garments, more often than not, including significant

fur trim on jackets, footwear, hats and hand coverings.

 

Trapping was a way of life in the northern plains. The local winter

festival celebrates it (Northern Manitoba Trapper's Festival, if anyone

is interested http://www.trappersfestival.com/about.htm ), and tries to

keep alive the skills and traditions of the people who lived that way of

life for many generations. It wasn't about being " superior " to the

animals. The Cree people are very spiritual and chose to celebrate the

gift the animals gave them, not their death. That's a significant

difference from what you're describing, imnsho.

 

Please, before you make blanket, black and white statements laden with

judgement and criticism, make sure you have ALL the facts, not just the

ones that support your p.o.v.

 

(Just ftr, I don't personally support the fur trade, but I certainly

know better than to lump everyone who wears fur (or other animal

products) in with those who do so for selfish/unthinking reasons.)

 

--

Sherri

 

" Power is like fire, you can use it, abuse it, and play with it. And if

you fuck up, you can get burned. " - Mauser

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Anna! ::waves:: I hope all is going well with you.

Thanks for sharing this article.I didn't have any

idea that some fur manufacturers used dogs and

cats, too. That is aweful.

 

I never liked the looks of fur coats. I think they make

people look like big bears. *lol* I agree with Sherri

about how some people have to wear fur as part of

their native culture and for lack of economic status

or not being able to afford any alternative. But I also

didn't think this article you posted was saying anything

bad about them, nor was it making a blanket sweep that

all people who wear fur are " ugly " humans. I think it was

pretty specific about who it was addressing. The point about

cultural fur use and hunting practices is a good one though.

I have pondered that issue some over the years.

 

~ PT ~

 

You don't have much hope of getting the truth if you

think you know in advance what the truth ought to be.

~ Robert B. Parker

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~~~~~~>

, AnnaJames91@c... wrote:

> Beautiful animals and ugly people...

>

> What do these two groups share in common? Well, beautiful animals

and

ugly

> people wear fur. For a person to wear fur openly demonstrates their

financial

> success, their perception of their achievement in life, and their

ability to

> keep up with a fashion trend. It also demonstrates the fact that

they care

> more about the way they appear to others than anything else,

including the

> pain and suffering of any life form that they consider inferior.

>

> There is some evidence that domestic cat and dog fur is being used

to

make

> fur products, especially those imported.