Fur Trade: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2015 5:41 pm
Please note that I want to keep this a fairly neutral discussion thread, so please refrain from getting into arguments for or against either side.
I am by no means a vegetarian; I come from a family that loves animals, but also loves to eat animals. A couple years ago, I became fascinated with the fur industry. It is one of the most controversial industries in the modern world, but there is no sign of it going away any time soon. Tired of hearing only the side of PETA et al., I set out to form my own opinion by gathering as much information as I could.
This is a list, sorted to show the good (pro-) facts, the bad (anti-) facts, and the ugly realities, all with the goal of being as unbiased as possible. I encourage you, after reading this, to form your own opinion from the whole story.
The Good
-conditions in fur farms have improved significantly over the past few decades
-American fur farms have rules and regulations to ensure the well being of the animals
-the animals are kept in individual cages to prevent biting and cannibalism
-injured/sick animals are isolated and treated professionally
-an unhealthy animal typically does not produce quality fur
-if done correctly, gassing and electrocution are very humane
-the wire cage floors prevent the animals from living in their own filth
-there is no true substitute for real fur - yet - as actually realistic synthetics are significantly more expensive for consumers than the real thing
-there are people who work at fur farms because they respect the animals and want to give them the best care that is financially feasible
-animal rights videos are often shock videos, with people being paid specifically to abuse the animals
The Bad
-the animals are typically harvested at only one year old
-the animals spend almost their whole lives in small cages
-the animals often face various psychological issues that cannot be handled by the ranchers, with self mutilation sometimes occurring as a side effect
-wire cage floors can cause injury to the animals' feet
-early death is not uncommon
-if done improperly, euthanasia methods can cause the animals to suffer
-China is the largest exporter of fur, and its fur industry is not regulated and does have animal cruelty
The Ugly
-destroying the industry will put people all over the world out of work
-animal rights extremists' raids involving releasing the animals from there cages fail as the animals cannot survive in the wild and get hit by cars (see this news article for an example (clean of any graphic images))
-closing down a fur farm results in the animals either being sold to other farms or euthanized
-synthetic furs aren't quite there yet, in terms of function over fashion, with real fur being warmer and more comfortable
-the industry still makes billions of dollars a year and is showing no signs of decrease
-boycotts very rarely work in any industry
-there are currently no means of euthanasia that are clean and cost effective and still work humanely 100%
If you wish to discuss the topic, post a reply. I also might add to the three sections if someone offers a point that I missed in any of them. I am going to reiterate that I want to keep this a fairly neutral discussion thread, so please refrain from getting into arguments over either side; stating and explaining your opinion is okay, however. Also refrain from posting or linking to any articles orimages that people may find shocking or disturbing.
If you like this format and want me to cover another topic in the same manner, pm me.
I am by no means a vegetarian; I come from a family that loves animals, but also loves to eat animals. A couple years ago, I became fascinated with the fur industry. It is one of the most controversial industries in the modern world, but there is no sign of it going away any time soon. Tired of hearing only the side of PETA et al., I set out to form my own opinion by gathering as much information as I could.
This is a list, sorted to show the good (pro-) facts, the bad (anti-) facts, and the ugly realities, all with the goal of being as unbiased as possible. I encourage you, after reading this, to form your own opinion from the whole story.
The Good
-conditions in fur farms have improved significantly over the past few decades
-American fur farms have rules and regulations to ensure the well being of the animals
-the animals are kept in individual cages to prevent biting and cannibalism
-injured/sick animals are isolated and treated professionally
-an unhealthy animal typically does not produce quality fur
-if done correctly, gassing and electrocution are very humane
-the wire cage floors prevent the animals from living in their own filth
-there is no true substitute for real fur - yet - as actually realistic synthetics are significantly more expensive for consumers than the real thing
-there are people who work at fur farms because they respect the animals and want to give them the best care that is financially feasible
-animal rights videos are often shock videos, with people being paid specifically to abuse the animals
The Bad
-the animals are typically harvested at only one year old
-the animals spend almost their whole lives in small cages
-the animals often face various psychological issues that cannot be handled by the ranchers, with self mutilation sometimes occurring as a side effect
-wire cage floors can cause injury to the animals' feet
-early death is not uncommon
-if done improperly, euthanasia methods can cause the animals to suffer
-China is the largest exporter of fur, and its fur industry is not regulated and does have animal cruelty
The Ugly
-destroying the industry will put people all over the world out of work
-animal rights extremists' raids involving releasing the animals from there cages fail as the animals cannot survive in the wild and get hit by cars (see this news article for an example (clean of any graphic images))
-closing down a fur farm results in the animals either being sold to other farms or euthanized
-synthetic furs aren't quite there yet, in terms of function over fashion, with real fur being warmer and more comfortable
-the industry still makes billions of dollars a year and is showing no signs of decrease
-boycotts very rarely work in any industry
-there are currently no means of euthanasia that are clean and cost effective and still work humanely 100%
If you wish to discuss the topic, post a reply. I also might add to the three sections if someone offers a point that I missed in any of them. I am going to reiterate that I want to keep this a fairly neutral discussion thread, so please refrain from getting into arguments over either side; stating and explaining your opinion is okay, however. Also refrain from posting or linking to any articles orimages that people may find shocking or disturbing.
If you like this format and want me to cover another topic in the same manner, pm me.