Garments in Canada’s retail outlets labeled faux fur are nothing but a SHAM. A shocking expose thanks to the inquiries carried on by the Toronto Star and Humane Society (HSUS) brought to light the ongoing crisis in Canada’s Clothing industry that is selling garments made of real animal fur from various breeds of dogs, variety of cats, foxes and rabbits though the tag on them reads- made using faux/synthetic fur.
Vancouver MP Don Davies stresses on the lack of federal laws and effective labeling guidelines leading to a state of utter chaos and anarchy in the realm of importation and trade of animal fur in Canada.
The Height of animal cruelty uncovered
[Image Source:vancitybuzz.com]
The Association for the Protection of Fur Bearing Animals has reported that foreign countries like China export fur from their fur and canine meat farms where animals are kept in inhumane conditions and overcrowded cages only to be beaten to death, or hanged, electrocuted and at times stripped off the skin while still alive. Such nations can be rightly called callous and deliberately have no laws to protect animals from cruelty and establish a society sensitive to animal welfare.
Sadly a progressive nation like Canada fails in imposing prohibition on imports of fur excepting endangered species. China thrives on such malicious practices with trades reaching to an enormous figure of $12 million year on year basis by contributing to 60 percent of total fur clothing entering Canada.
In the year 2010, U.S imposed further restrictions and stiffened the policies relating to the ban by making it mandatory for the fur items of clothing and accessories even those priced below $150 to be labeled properly with country of origin and species of animal.
The E-Petition: a new Canadian Parliamentary Tool
Vancouver MP Davies has started a movement of a new kind via an e-petition (electronic petition) that is `a call to action’. Thereby, urging the federal government (to implement a policy) to ban the import into the country as well as the sale of dog and cat fur in Canada. The idea behind the petition is to get it backed by 100,000 Canadian nationals by May 17th and once this feat is achieved, the petition automatically becomes eligible to be introduced in the House of Commons. A petition is initiated once signed by six citizens and promoted by an MP, for it to be registered.
Davies is of the opinion that the intentional labeling fraud is unfair and may drag animal lovers/activists who are against use of fur into supporting the tainted industry.
Once the animal fur is brought in, large quantities of it are organized by the garment manufacturing sector and can be normally found in lining of the boots & gloves, trimmings of jackets and children’s stuffed toys. The Petition aims at directing the focus of the government towards the hostile conditions
animals are raised purely for the purpose of brutal slaughter. In contrast, pet dogs and cats in Canada are treated with care and considered part of a happy family.
The U.S, U.K, European Union and Australia have long before prohibited the imports of dog and cat fur. Geoff Urton of the BC SPCA has rightly stated that it is about time Canada naturally join these other nations in the noble cause of animal welfare and banning the imports and use of animal fur.
Large scale animal slaughter in the guise of fashion and in-trends is an abhorring and unethical act that should no longer be endorsed by any nation and her citizens.