To ask what’s wrong with fur

[Iwannasnack]

Compared to leather? Why is one socially acceptable and one not. Is it all to do with animal cruelty? in which case why is there not a drive to raise standards, like in the meat industry, rather than boycott the product? I’m not trying to be inflammatory just genuinely curious!

Following with interest

Is leather a byproduct of the meat industry whereas animals are farmer specifically for fur.

Farmed not farmer

I think it's the way that the fur is taken off the animal whilst the animal is still alive. I know people who have seen videos but I personally can't watch.

I also know someone who is in the media industry who has gone 'behind the scenes' for a story and they're scarred by what they've seen so I just wouldn't go near it personally.

I have no issue morally with it as long as the animal was used for meat too

Well, there's the obvious one of the meat and leather being used, as opposed to an animal being killed solely for their fur.

I do not believe that fur animals are skinned alive. The cruelty is in the trapping and keeping of the animals.

Trapping animals is cruel because they are held in pain and fear.

Farming fur animals is unregulated AFAIK (and, even if regulated, often done in very distant regions) so they are kept in over-crowded, unnatural, stressful conditions.

Have you been watching The One Show? Presenter was doing a piece on fur wearing what appeared to be a leather jacket.

When did you last eat a mink for dinner?

Also the conditions that fur-farmed animals are kept in are grim. Mink are kept in miniscule individual cages with no room to move properly and then gassed.

The way fur animals are farmed and slaughtered is not ethical. I eat meat and wear leather, I won't wear fur. The welfare standards are too low.

How often do you eat mink Surfskate?

Animals bred for fur are only born to be killed for their fur. They live in terrible conditions unnecessarily and then they die.

The fur industry is utterly barbaric! Poor creatures kept in cages so tiny they can't move and no way to love from faeces etc The fur is removed while they are still alive etc

I've seen many undercover videos and it's actually made me vomit

I think it's because of how they get the fur off the animals and they are jet in horrendous conditions and the meat not used.
But I have seen stories of cows kept in horrendous conditions, do people know where the leather is coming from, I very much doubt it, I know I don't.
I'm watching just to see people views as I feel some people my be a tad hypocritical, myself included when I really think about it.

I think it completely depends on how the animal is reared but I'd rather see deer pelts or rabbit skins utilised after the animal is slaughtered for meat than see it go to waste for example (as much of it apparently does.

Personally I'd happily use rabbit for or similar but wouldn't dream of using "fur only" animals such as mink.

I would never buy a new fur coat but I do wear my great grandmother's one from the 1920s. It's the warmest garment I've ever worn.

A quick google search tells you pretty much all you need to know about what’s wrong with fur as a stand alone question, but I guess the main difference is that leather is perceived as being a byproduct and it’s almost better to use it (if the animal is being slaughtered for meat anyway) than to throw it away?
A lot of leather comes from countries which much less stringent animal rights/welfare laws than ours though, so unfortunately it’s not a case of happy-right-up-until-the-last-moment British organic cow gets turned in to Waitrose steak and Clark’s shoes

Depends what you buy and where from I guess. Some manufacturers will have better policies and be more transparent than others.

Canada Goose has it's fur and down policies online. I read it before buying a coat.

I despise people who wear fur. Here's the reasons why- Google will find many, many more. I don't care if this comment offends anyone- I have utter contempt for anyone defending or supporting the fur trade.

Warning these links are horrific.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4996298/Footage-shows-terrible-conditions-Russian-fur-farm.html

www.respectforanimals.org/facts-about-animals-used-for-their-fur/mink-facts/

www.furfreealliance.com/fur-farming/

I do not believe that fur animals are skinned alive. The cruelty is in the trapping and keeping of the animals

a few years ago a video was doing the rounds on social media, I accidentally saw it , it was a fox being skinned alive, it made me physically sick, and the short bit I saw still haunts me.

I eat meat and wear leather shoes. I wouldn't wear anything else leather. I have plenty of non-leather shoes but the truth is that leather makes the best shoes in terms of functionality.

Real fur isn't something that performs a necessary function that can't be easily replicated. Fine if you live in Siberia. Unnecessary from a fashion perspective.

There are massive welfare issues with leather (not generally a by-product if the meat trade), down, and fur.

All are incredibly cruel compared to the meat industry

I agree, and don’t wear fur.

But we are kidding ourselves if we think that industrial farming (pig farming - sow crates anyone, dairy - calf hutches, permanently pregnant cows who have babies taken at birth etc, and battery chickens) has higher welfare standards than a fur farm.

Most of the leather used for our shoes and clothes comes from South America. Animal welfare laws there are considerably less stringent than in the UK but the conditions are still a million miles away from a fur farm. Fur is so very, very unnecessary.

Yes, I remember that video DaedricLordSlayer. I also could not watch it. But I don't think it was a true 'industry' video. I think it was sick animal cruelty for the sake of cruelty.

I knew a furrier many years ago. He said fur animals are usually gassed, to minimise damage to the fur. There is no reason whatsoever to skin an animal alive

I am not defending the fur industry. I agree that it is cruel and unnecessary, unless, perhaps, you live in the Arctic.

Why do they skin them alive? What is the purpose?
Surely its much harder to skin an animal alive