I’m proud to be a Californian because our people and our state aren’t afraid to take a stand against injustice, no matter how ingrained it may be in our past or our policy. The fur industry is a wildly cruel and completely unnecessary business in which the skins of living, breathing, sentient animals are literally ripped from their bodies for human use.
Recently, Assembly Bill 44 was introduced in the Legislature to prohibit the sale of fur in California. While this bill has passed several key votes in various committees within the Assembly, it still has a way to go before becoming law. It’s important that Californians understand exactly how important this bill is and contact their representatives in the Assembly and Senate and ask them to vote for this fur ban.
Animals whose skins are used to produce fur come primarily from factory farms. They’re kept in tiny cages with wire floors and fed almost constantly to fatten them so their skin expands. They never experience freedom from these cages until they are killed. Many develop sores, infections, and medical conditions that are left untreated. Their whole, miserable lives, they are treated as if they are products, rather than the living, feeling beings they are.
Animals killed for their fur experience unimaginable suffering at the end of their lives. Anal and genital electrocution is common practice, as is suffocation, bludgeoning and hanging. Animals trapped in the wild, such as coyotes trapped for Canada Goose apparel, are caught in antiquated foot-hold traps that clamp onto their legs, causing them to bleed to death, chew off their own legs in desperation, or wait for hunters to come and shoot them in the head.
After animal skins used for fur are collected, they are treated with toxic chemicals that are damaging to our land and water systems. The World Bank ranks the fur industry among the top five worst industries for toxic-metal pollution.
This cannot continue. There are literally thousands of alternatives to cover our bodies that do not cause the suffering and death of animals who are no different — in any meaningful way — than the dogs and cats who many consider family members. Please call your representatives and demand their support of AB 44.
Jamie Robinson
San Diego
Times of San Diego welcomes publishing thoughtful letters about current issues. Please send to opinion@timesofsandiego.com for consideration.
