To fur or not to fur, that is the question…
I’ve been doing my rounds at the mall, and it seems that fur, whether fake or real, is making its way to the mainstream market! A current trend is the use of furry (faux) vests. How could you not lose yourself when you go down the shop’s aisles, running your fingers through those fur coats? Now that it’s winter, it’s on every other rack too!
I’ve spoken to my mother in law about what outerwear to use with her customized jade green gown for an upcoming wedding, and frankly it was difficult to come up with a good look, especially if she sticks to a very safe green gauzy wrap as well.
So my thoughts brought me back to fur. Maybe a gray fur coat would go nicely with her jade green dress?
I googled fur coats and found that the real ones actually cost $3000 or more. Yes, per coat. It probably depends on who’s selling, but there are also second hand ones on Ebay that would sell for $500 or less.
As I googled fur coats more and more, my attentions turned to a site that discussed a charity fundraising event in Staten Island, also mentioning an Annual Baby Seal Slaughter Event in Canada. The animal lovers all jumped to the animals defense, of course. Here are some of their responses:
FUR IS MURDER
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Wow, the Catholic Church SUPPORTING ANIMAL CRUELTY. What a bunch of HYPROCRITES! One day they’re celebrating St. Francis Day by the blessing of the animals, then the next day THEY’RE SUPPORTING LIVE SKINNING OF ANIMALS. I wonder how St. Francis would feel about this? Relax, ya’ll, I’m Catholic and I’m saying this. THIS IS DISGUSTING!
*** St Francis is actually an Episcopalian Church, however, most people normally associate the word church with Catholic faith.
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A Friends of Animals bumper sticker reads: “Get a Feel for Fur: Slam Your Fingers in a Car Door”…and a very graphic depiction of the real price of fur; a bloody animal paw clamped by a steel trap
It appears St Andrews Church has no interest in St. Francis of Assisi other than the “Blessing of Pets” on his feast day. And then there’s the dichotomy of having a pet cemetery for animals we love, and having a sale of furs from the animals that have been brutally killed.
All animals feel pain. Turning a blind eye to this in the holy name of charity not only sends a twisted message to parishioners, but teaches children it’s alright to compromise moral behavior if you can trade it for a “higher good.”
Tell me how can you justify trading the suffering of animals for vanity?
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Fact: Fur is a “natural fiber” when it is on an animal’s back. Once it has been peeled off, it must be “tanned” in order to stop it from biodegrading. This completely unnatural process uses caustic chemicals including formaldehyde and chromium. These are serious environmental contaminants, and the fur industry is very aware of it. In 1991, the US Environmental Protection Agency fined two fur processing plants approximately $1.6 million as a result of the pollution they caused. The EPA stated that they “found total non-compliance with hazardous waste regulations”. The EPA also claimed that wastes from fur processing plants “may cause respiratory problems, and are listed as possible carcinogens.”—
I’ve lost myself in trying to look fashionably good that I forgot the one thing that is important to me. Animals. Once upon a time, I wanted to be a veterinarian. Wearing real fur goes against everything I believe in.
While I may never be as passionately extremist as animal lovers who fight for animal rights, I still believe in their rights; I love my animals that I left back home, I love the animals that I gave up for a better home, I love animals on the street and I will love any future animal that comes my way.
If we can lessen this insane demand for real fur coats, fur makers will go out of business and ergo stop the slaughter. Considering there’s an option to go faux, maybe the fur makers will change their tune. I’m hoping the consumers will too.
As for my mother-in-law? A green sparkly wrap might just be the answer to looking totally haute couture!
