RedGage

When we look up the word “immoral” in the on line Merriam-Webster Dictionary we see it is defined as anything conflicting with general held moral principles. Morals are in turn, a set of principles of right or wrong behavior. As children and youths we are taught that killing without reason is wrong. In the past we killed animals for food and wore their hides as clothing. As we now have other means of making clothing, killing animals for the purpose of wearing fur is unnecessary and therefore immoral. As such the wearing of fur itself is immoral.

In the fur trade animals are either farm raised, living in small cages until they are large enough to be killed (generally by electrocution) and skinned, or they are hunted through various means. Either way the sole purpose of the slaughter of these animals is for their fur. In most cases the remains are either fed back to other caged animals, rendered into pet food (as meat meal), or incinerated.

Just how many animals does it take to make a full length fur coat?

According to Askville.com, a lot!

8 Seals

16 – 20 Beavers

18 – 20 Karakul Lambs

20 – 30 Raccoons

20 – 30 Wallabies

65 Mink

100 – 400 Squirrels

130 – 200 Chinchillas

180 - 240 Ermine

In the extreme of the fur industry Karakul ewes are often forced to abort their lambs shortly before their due date (reportedly by kicking the ewes). These lambs have tight curly black wool that fades with age, as such the younger the lamb, the higher the value of their fur.

When it comes to the trapping of animals for the fur industry, we hear stories of how cruel the traps are. Some drown the animals they hold, others hold their legs until they are finally put out of their suffering. All too often these leg hold traps catch animals they were not set for, or predators tear the trapped animal apart.