The
United States should strongly oppose the
shocking treatment of animals raised,
killed, and skinned alive on Chinese fur
farms and take action by urging the U. S.
Ambassador to China to convey the United
States' opposition to these cruel savage
methods. - A year-long
undercover investigation by Care for the
Wild International (CWI), Swiss Animal
Protection and EAST International of
fur farms in China's Hebei Province revealed
that before they are skinned alive,
animals are pulled from their cages and thrown
to the ground before workers bludgeon
them with metal rods or slam them on hard
surfaces, causing broken bones and
convulsions but not always immediate
death. Other animals watch helplessly as
workers make their way down the row.
- Many animals are still alive
and struggling desperately when workers
flip them onto their backs or hang them up by
their legs or tails to skin them. Video
evidence shows workers on these farms
cutting the skin and fur from an animal's leg
while the free limbs kick and writhe.
When the fur is finally peeled off over the
animals' heads, their naked, bloody
bodies are thrown onto a pile. Some of the
animals are still alive, hearts beating for
as long as 10 minutes after they are
skinned. One investigator recorded a skinned
raccoon dog on the heap of carcasses
who had enough strength to lift his bloodied
head and stare into the camera.
- On these farms, foxes, minks, rabbits,
and other animals pace and shiver in
outdoor wire cages, exposed to driving rain,
freezing nights, and, at other times,
scorching sun. Disease and injuries are
widespread, and animals suffering from
anxiety-induced psychosis chew on their
own limbs and throw themselves repeatedly
against the cage bars.
- There
are no regulations governing fur farms in
China—farmers can house and slaughter animals
however they see fit.
- A
growing number of international fur traders,
processors, and fashion designers have
gradually shifted their business to
China, where the absence of restrictive
regulations makes life easier and
profit margins broader.
- Fur
from China ends up in virtually every mall in
America, on jackets and other garments
with fur collars, trim, and lining. A
survey of U.S. retail outlets reveals that many
mass-market fur-trimmed garments carry
the "Made in China" label. However, since raw
fur pelts often move through
international auctions before being sewn in
other countries, the final product may also
read, "Made in Italy," or, "Made in
France" making it impossible for consumers to
know where the fur originates.
For more information about
Chinese fur farms or to obtain a copy of
this video, please contact Chris Heyde or Tracy
Silverman of SAPL at (703) 836-4300.
Please
write the U.S. Ambassador to China urging him
to call on the Chinese government to stop
this atrocity immediately.
Ambassador Clark T. Randt, Jr.
United States Ambassador to China
United States Embassy of Beijing, China
Xiu Shui Bei Jie 3, 100600
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