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Animal ATTRACTION |
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August 2009
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Many people refuse to buy products made from animal pelts, opting instead for "faux fur," thinking they are sparing the animals. But in some cases, the substitute is unfathomable. Dogs and cats are being used to make coats that are bought and sold right here in Texas. At Chico's on West Gray, you'll find lots of different fashions. What you won't find, is fur. But in some stores in Houston, that is not the case. Here in the U.S., dogs are seen as a source of companionship, not clothing. But in China, which provides more than half of all fur products sold in the U.S., dogs and cats serve another purpose, as a recent disturbing video shot by the Humane Society of the United States gruesomely reveals. "We went to warehouses with stacks and stacks of pelts from golden retrievers and other dogs. Millions of dogs and cats killed for their fur, with that fur finding its way into fur trim sold in Western markets," Wayne Pacelle of the Humane Society said. Although dog and cat fur were banned seven years ago, the HSUS recently purchased either online or in person 25 coats with fur trim from 17 retailers – two of them based in Texas, Neiman Marcus and JC Penney – and some of the testing came back domesticated dog. German shepard, collie and the like, and consumers were unwittingly and unknowingly buying domesticated dog fur, even though it’s forbidden in this country. In many cases, the fur had come from raccoon dogs, which resemble raccoons but are K-9s. Some of the consumers in question were under the impression they were buying faux fur. Currently, if the value of the fur is under $150, the law doesn't require retailers to label the species or country of origin. Neiman Marcus and JC Penney did not return 11 News’ calls on the matter. Meanwhile, the HSUS says unless legislation pending in Congress is passed, consumers will continue buying blind.
9 CommentsLeave a comment |
I EMAILED J.C. PENNEY THIS MORNING TO LET THEM KNOW
THAT IF THEY DO NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM OF DOG &
CAT FUR IN THEIR PRODUCTS THEY CAN COUNT ME AS A
FORMER CUSTOMER AND I WILL NEVER ENTER ANOTHER
J.C. PENNEY STORE.
I will no longer shop at JC Penney's!!
Thank you for airing the report on the use of dog and cat fur in clothing. This is a serious problem that the public needs to know about. There is only one way to avoid buying a garmet with dog or cat fur, and that is NOT TO BUY ANYTHING CONTAINING FUR AT ALL. One can easily find attractive, stylish clothing that does not contain fur at all.
I will be contacting J.C. Penney to let them know of my disgust with their products containing fur and that I will no longer shop in their stores until they discontinue selling all products containing fur.
Oh, wow! I didn't know about this. Thanks for posting it
I will be e-mailing JC Penny and letting them know my disgust regarding the purchasing of these types of products. My Pugs and Calico Cat are part of my family and I could not even imagine someone doing something like that to an animal just for its fur.
I hate that JC penny sells any fur in their stores they have informed me that it wasn't dog, but I am more than upset that you felt the need to show those poor dogs in china, some of us already know that they skin dogs alive, we don't need to see it,some of us can't handle seeing it.If you can't show somebody doing something to change it, please just tell the world what is happening, don't show it I can't bring myself to ever watch your news cast again.
I am utterly and completely disgusted with the thought that retailers are selling dog and cat fur anywhere, much less right in my back yard. I can't stomach the thought of what these poor animals are enduring for the expense of fashion. It is an ignorant and frivolous price they are paying.
I do, however, agree with the above statement regarding the airing of animal cruelty on your newscast. I looked up at the television while this story was airing and got physically sick. I don't believe that was necessary at all. Not to mention, if I had children that we watching they would have been even more horrified than I at the cruel displays that you aired. Please consider that while it infuriates me and many citizens of the United States that these practices are condoned in other countries, we don't need to see blatant examples of this act on television. We cannot physically go there and stop them, therefore seeing it is just a reminder that it happens there everyday. Please be a little more sensitive to the eyes of your viewers unless there is something directly proactive that we can do.
JC Penney should be ashamed of themselves. The bottom line to them is money. They are spiritually void and demonic. To torture an animal, one of God's creatures for greed is evil and I will not shop there anymore.
Doreen
Sorry to many of the above comments posted by concerend and upset individuals.
As a fashion designer in training, we've learned many of this sad and related news. It's cruel, yes, but China has a different religion. I mean, upset that I am about their using cats and dogs, it's better than them placing several other species of animals on the extinction list. China, many parts of it, is involved in the black market to kill Sun Bears, Tigers, Snakes, Lizards...You name it, in there eyes it has some magical power that they will kill and eat it for and sell the skins there. Once these animals go extinct in the wild, they will try to go to the zoo and capture these animals.
China is poor, they will make money somehow. You think cats and dogs are bad?! There are children, sons and daughters of farmers being born without their brains because their water supply is contaminated with chemicals and other harsh substances, garbage thrown into the water supply. To creat what?
Velvet, Rayon Velvet. Cotton, and other nasty goodies. Rayon is a tree melted down by chemicals and before I found this out I thought it was nice. Cotton...Consumes more water than factories use to clean. Cotton is also drowned in chemicals in its growth and proccess. You wouldn't think it if you wore it, but humans and animals dye because they get cancer by being infected.
You think cats and dogs for fur is bad? It's unhumanitary in our eyes because many of us have different view points. But just think about the children and young women being payed 10 an hour, or a day or less to make cheap shirts you find in ROSS, Old Navy, or the like. It's not just JC Penny. Look further and you'll see more disturbing things.
The thing is, big companies, industryies, WILL NOT LISTEN TO A SINGLE PERSON. The best thing to do? DON'T BUY FROM THEM!!! Support seamstresses, tailors, and up and coming fashion designers who many learned the difference between faux fur ((polyester base usually)) between real-ish feeling fur like cats and dogs. Have THEM make you're garments, it will last longer, you can design them yourself, and garments like this will become more common other than some cheaply made T-shirt and pants with crappy seams and tortured chinese women and children who make them.
Go and report your digust, they may delete it without even reading it. My point? Don't buy from them as a whole. It may or may not work but this is a heirachy here. The base of that heirachy pyramid can only be abused so much before it crumbles, sending the rich people on the top to their knees, the only way to survive is to open their eyes to see how much they have wronged and angered the people.
Sad thing is, most people are too worried about their lives and to earn a pretty penny that most don't give a care, and bad stuff like this goes on.