Nice Coat You're Wearing....Is It Dog??

[Woogie Man]

Macy's Sheds Its Dog-Fur Coats - DailyFinance

Since this story came out, a bill passed to strengthen the regulations on fur sold in America. Not sure how much difference it will really make. To get an idea of the scope of this, just google "Chinese Raccoon Dog". It's sickening to read the search results alone, even without clicking on them.

Link for bill summary.... H.R. 2480 [111th] - Summary: Truth in Fur Labeling Act of 2010 (GovTrack.us)

[kjc]

OMGosh... a friend was telling me about this the other day... I am weak and cannot watch anything horrible... so she told me about it. How insane... those poor animals. My heart bleeds for them. I thought she mentioned JCPenney's... are we to boycott them or what? I feel sick thinking about this.

[KazzyK810]

Originally Posted by kjc

OMGosh... a friend was telling me about this the other day... I am weak and cannot watch anything horrible... so she told me about it. How insane... those poor animals. My heart bleeds for them. I thought she mentioned JCPenney's... are we to boycott them or what? I feel sick thinking about this.

My daughter, now 20, bought a cute little black jacket with the most amazingly soft, fluffy, faux fur trim on the hood a couple of years ago from JC Penney, that was made in China. They were later pulled as it was "Raccoon" fur aka Raccoon Dog. She hasn't shopped at Penneys since.

[capt_noonie]

On a side note, it's really obvious, to me anyway, the difference between real and faux. If I felt a fur and it felt real but the label said faux, I would know something was up. The real pelts feel "cold" while the faux feel warm and rough, even on the more expensive faux stuff, and let's face it, manufacturers are only going to spend so much on the fake stuff to imitate the real stuff, otherwise consumers will just buy the real stuff.

[KazzyK810]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

....let's face it, manufacturers are only going to spend so much on the fake stuff to imitate the real stuff, otherwise consumers will just buy the real stuff.

I wouldn't expect to get "real stuff" on a cheap $150 jacket.

[Wylie's Mom]

China's dog-fur (and cat fur) industry is huge, cruel, and very cheaply sold.

{WARNING: cruelty info} This will hurt some people to read, however, it's important to realize just how cruel the industry is in China (and elsewhere): they skin dogs while they are still alive so that there is less damage to the coat/fur. After the dog is skinned (meaning, the entire coat is ripped from their body) - it is tossed into a pile and left there...whether dead or alive. Many are still alive . There is video footage of this act, but I don't advise searching for it unless you think you're truly able to live w/ the memory.

Thanks for posting this, Jim.

[KazzyK810]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

China's dog-fur (and cat fur) industry is huge, cruel, and very cheaply sold.

{WARNING: cruelty info} This will hurt some people to read, however, it's important to realize just how cruel the industry is in China (and elsewhere): they skin dogs while they are still alive so that there is less damage to the coat/fur. After the dog is skinned (meaning, the entire coat is ripped from their body) - it is tossed into a pile and left there...whether dead or alive. Many are still alive . There is video footage of this act, but I don't advise searching for it unless you think you're truly able to live w/ the memory.

Thanks for posting this, Jim.

OMG! What is wrong with humans??? Just the picture in my head, without ever seeing video is enough.

[jacquelinebabco]

Woogie man I am so glad to see you back. I was so sad to see you leave. I love your posts and was so dishearten to read that you had left. .Welcome back, you've been missed!

[mypreciouspups]

Jim I see you were away.. welcome back from me also.. I have not the time these days to spend much time on the forums..

As for the thread, discusting and I could not open the link.. it would upset me too much...

[Woogie Man]

Thanks for the welcome back, Jackie and Anne. The Animal Protection forum is too important for me to walk away from so....I'm back.

Ann, you're as familiar (and probably more so) on this subject than I. While the U.S. and the European Union have taken measures against this trade, there is a huge market left for the Chinese to exploit. Russia is among its biggest customers.

I don't have a lot of confidence in what the U.S. has done in this regard. We've already seen toxic wheat gluten in our dog food and lead paint on toys sold here. Everyone seems more interested in 'getting it cheap' than with any concern for how it's so cheap. Where's the oversight/regulation/monitoring? Are these companies not responsible for the end products they sell to us? At least with awareness, we can pressure these guys to do business more responsibly/ethically.

BTW, the links I put in my OP are in no way graphic. I suggested googling 'Chinese Raccoon Dog' just to see the results that come up, but wouldn't recommend opening any of those sites unless you are prepared for some very disturbing images.

Thank you all for reading. This IS hard-to-take stuff, but we can't turn a blind eye and hope for things to get better on their own.

[Princess10]

OMGsh! I cannot believe what I've read in this thread. Sadly I almost can believe it, as there are many selfish people that think their pleasure is so much more valuable than treating another living being humanely.

It's sick. It's disgusting & for me it's embarrassing to be part of a society that thinks this is ok so they can pad their pockets. I try to stay away from this thread as it is just way too disturbing for me & I swear I cannot erase some of the images from my mind. But like others I feel obligated to educate myself & others if I can to at least do my part to put an end to this.

[miabellaamoure]

I have often wondered if people from other countries have brains that are just wired abnormally...that prevent them from feeling compassion or respect for the innocent animals that they kill and most of all by the methods in which they do so...seriously, wth

My belief system follows a path of karma...and their day is just waiting for them!

[Woogie Man]

Originally Posted by miabellaamoure

I have often wondered if people from other countries have brains that are just wired abnormally...that prevent them from feeling compassion or respect for the innocent animals that they kill and most of all by the methods in which they do so...seriously, wth

My belief system follows a path of karma...and their day is just waiting for them!

I agree with you completely. But, how can those that don't respect human life be expected to worry about an animal?

BTW, the stuff Ann posted doesn't tell the whole story. These animals are never free from suffering all their lives. Their horrible deaths are only the final indignity.

It's very hard to delve into these subjects without getting stuck in the deep end of the pool. One thing that works for me is to consider this...

The sea refuses no river and all God's children will find their way home, no matter their path. The same is true for Ole Scratch and his offspring, too. Theirs is just a different home.

[Jennxling]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

China's dog-fur (and cat fur) industry is huge, cruel, and very cheaply sold.

{WARNING: cruelty info} This will hurt some people to read, however, it's important to realize just how cruel the industry is in China (and elsewhere): they skin dogs while they are still alive so that there is less damage to the coat/fur. After the dog is skinned (meaning, the entire coat is ripped from their body) - it is tossed into a pile and left there...whether dead or alive. Many are still alive . There is video footage of this act, but I don't advise searching for it unless you think you're truly able to live w/ the memory.

Thanks for posting this, Jim.

This makes me so sad!! I am NOT going to look for the video, I'm just not strong enough. I don't understand how people can do such a thing. Same goes with the animals that we eat...I really need to become vegetarian...