Victory! Australian Department Stores Go Fur Free!
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Countless animals will be spared from having their fur ripped from their backs now that David Jones, Myer, Target, Big W and Kmart have all announced that they will be fur-free – effective immediately!
In a move that reflects massive public support for an end to the fur trade, Myer has become the latest company to announce its pledge, with its general manager of corporate affairs, Jo Lynch, saying, ”More and more stores around the world have a no-fur policy and we took on board the feedback of customers”. Ms Lynch added that ”Community views on the use of fur in merchandise have changed, regardless of the source of that fur”.
Almost three-quarters of the fur sold in Australia comes from China, where there are no penalties for abusing animals who are slaughtered in the name of fashion. Animals on fur farms spend their entire lives confined to cramped, filthy wire cages. Fur farmers use the cheapest and cruellest killing methods available, including suffocation, electrocution, gassing and poisoning.
Cats and dogs are among the animals killed for their fur in China, and imported fur is often intentionally mislabelled so that if you wear any fur, there’s no way of knowing whose skin you’re in.
But as Myer, David Jones and other department stores have recognised, whether fur has come from a dog kept in a filthy wire cage in China or a rabbit gassed to death in Australia, there is no such thing as ethical fur.
Fortunately, there is no need to be cruel to stay warm and look cool. Faux furs are available in stores everywhere, and PETA continues to work with leading designers and clothing retailers to encourage them to use and sell fashions made exclusively from animal-friendly materials.
With these major retailers joining the pledge against fur, it has never been easier to get that killer look without the killing!
Posted by Claire Fryer
Tracy Samassa commented: 11-13-2012 at 5:02 PM
this is a fantastic win. Well done to those companies. Lets keep targeting the rest!
sky simone commented: 11-15-2012 at 7:26 AM
Thank God..
What I am disgusted about is that Myer and these places would sell fur to begin with. It’s all over the place in Sportsgirl and Portmans and I’m so upset about it.
This isn’t the 1960s.. I thought people were educated about the slaughter of animals for fur.. but evidentally if you don’t remind them, they forget and slip into their old ways.
I have emailed sportsgirl telling them I will promote a boycott until they go fur free
Dear Sportsgirl,
I have been a regular customer for many years. For the last 5 years I have been a freelance photographer dealing with a lot of models and using many stores for fashion and accessories.
I was appauled and sadeneed this last year to see Sportsgirl selling FUR.
“fur is dead” or so I thought it had been since the 1960s.. Are the owners, designers, and managers of Sportsgirl aware where fur comes from?
Generally from animals that are skinned alive on Chinese fur farms.. often cats and dogs stolen from their owners.
The animals killed for fur are usually skinned alive to keep the fur nice and soft, since it cannot be treated. Animals include cats, dogs, racoons, foxes, bears, rabbits and more.
Fake fur is easy to manufacture, and you can tell looking accross the street what is real and what is fake.
Fake fur sticks up – whilst real fur lays flat.
Fur also does not come off the skin.. (unlike wool) and so I am ashamed and shocked that such a large Australian chain store would sink so low as to promote such unnecessary cruelty.
Previously I have spent thousands of dollars a year at Sportsgirl on clothing and accessories.
I will no longer shop at sportsgirl, encouraging an active boycott of Sportsgirl to everyone I know until Sportsgirl takes a stand to never sell fur again.
Your reply and concern would be appreciated
Faithfully,
Sky SImone
Jenny Rindfleish commented: 11-23-2012 at 4:49 PM
What amazes me is that consumers are still buying fur without giving any thought to the most horrid and terrible torture that dear animals must be experiencing because of this disgusting trade. As a customer I would EXPECT anything I purchase to be ‘cruelty free’ but until we make a lot of noise about it and protest it seems that these companies won’t change. Obviously, these few companies have been forced into changing so now we need to make the rest do the same with our loud and continuous voices against such butchery. Thank you PETA you are a saving grace for some many voiceless dear animals.
dolores cook commented: 11-25-2012 at 12:05 PM
stop the killing & torture to these animals, as living being.
ron thomas commented: 11-25-2012 at 3:05 PM
i am so glad these/some animals will live without being tortured… !!!
brittany commented: 11-26-2012 at 2:29 PM
What an amazing victory! So glad to hear this..but also what shocking news that it is only now that stores have realized to go fur free. In addition, it’s disgusting to think of the treatment of animals in China..HOW can we make a change to this? How can we end this?
Betty commented: 11-28-2012 at 10:01 AM
Just a small victory but a start
Roy Baker commented: 12-8-2012 at 6:07 AM
Well done PETA Australia and their supporters, it’s a long hard road but we are getting there
Tess Wright commented: 12-17-2012 at 7:18 PM
Fantastic work to all who contributed to helping this draconian practice to be stamped out, but we can’t rest yet, there’s still a lot of work to be done so lets keep the pressure up.
To Brittany 11/26/2012 Your comment on, how can we make a change to the way they treat animals in China! There are lots of Chinese people in Australia who have relatives back in China so if we spread the word to all the chinese people we meet and it touches their heart then they in turn will tell their relatives back home.
So lets get on to it people!