It's interesting how people jump in the cruelty bandwagon after watching a video that has been set up to provoke an emotional response. PETA, who have the video on their website, also say this
UGG boots are made of shearling—yep, that’s skin with the fleece still attached, people! Every year, millions of sheep are castrated and parts of their tails are cut off—often without any painkillers—before they’re finally slaughtered for their skin, which is what UGG boots are made of. They endure all that cruelty just for a pair of boots. It’s also considered “normal” in the Australian wool industry for approximately 3 million young lambs to die every spring.
So let's break it down. First, all sheepskin products are made from shearling. Millions of sheep castrated? So are millions of dogs and cows and pigs.it stops them breeding unnecessarily. Tails cut off? It's called docking, and it's necessary to prevent them suffering from all sorts of fly born diseases. Slaughtered for their skin? No, sheep are slaughtered for their meat. The shearling is a by product. 3 million young lambs die because that's why they are bred, for us to be able to eat spring lamb! They don't die for no reason! (Or to provide us with very expensive ugg boots).
Everything PETA says above is true, but context is everything too. They post a gruesome video of sheep being slaughtered, make a few statements out of context or without a full explanation, and say that's what UGG are promoting. It's a bit like showing a video of a child being beaten by its father, saying 3 million children die each year them jumping to a big conclusion that all fathers beat their children who then go on to die.
BTW, Next slippers are as long lasting as Uggs, without the price tag.