Fur cruelty still exists
Fur-Free Friday, held each year nationwide on the day after Thanksgiving, began in the 1980s to shine a light on the cruelty of the fur trade. Major retailers and designers stopped selling fur, and many of us dared to hope that this industry of suffering was finally ending. But the truth is, the cruelty has not stopped.
Fur is still being sold. Full-length coats may be rare today, but fur trim remains common. That small tuft on a hood or pair of boots may look insignificant, yet it comes from an animal whose life ended in fear and pain. Because real fur can be difficult to distinguish from faux, please take the time to check every label.
On fur farms, wild animals such as foxes and minks spend their entire lives confined to tiny wire cages, pacing endlessly with no chance to experience the world nature intended for them. And because their pelts must remain unblemished, killing methods are chosen not for mercy, but to preserve the fur.
Trapping is no less brutal. Steel-jaw traps slam shut with crushing force, leaving animals panicked and suffering for hours. When trappers return, death often comes through repeated blows to a terrified, struggling animal. Many proudly record themselves with the frightened animal, so the cruelty is not hidden.
The NH Animal Rights League and Voices of Wildlife in NH will hold a Fur-Free-Friday protest in Concord. Everyone is welcome to join us and speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.