When you think of angora wool you think of soft knit jumpers not the torture of cute little bunnies.
But that’s exactly what’s happening.
A new campaign from animal activist group Peta is highlighting the abusive practices by Chinese fur factories with a horrifying video exposing the unethical way in which rabbits are harvested for their fur.
You can watch it below but be warned it’s highly graphic, features rabbits being tied down, screaming in pain as their fur is ripped out. It is not for the faint of heart.
Again, GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING.
The undercover footage was shot in 10 factories in China and the investigator filmed workers violently ripping the fur from the rabbits’ as the they screamed at the top of their lungs in pain.
“After this terrifying and barbaric ordeal, which the rabbits endure every three months, many of them appeared to go into shock, lying motionless inside their tiny, filthy cages, with no solid flooring or bedding, and without the vital companionship of other rabbits,” a statement on the Peta website says.
The ones that survive the horrific ordeal are hung upside down, their throats are slit, and their bodies sold.
Ninety per cent of Angora fur is produced in China, where there are no penalties for abuse of animals on farms and no standards to regulate the treatment of the animals.
Even if you have a rabbit fur garment hanging in your wardrobe that has a ‘Made in Italy’ label, chances are the angora fur originated in China.
Peta are reaching out to fashion labels and urging them to stop their angora production. H&M and Acne were the first to cease production indefinitely, and they’ve since been joined by Topshop, Whistles, Calvin Klein, and Marks & Spencer. H&M is allowing customers to return angora products to stores for a full refund.
The pressure is now on other stores to do the same.
Retail chain Zara faced massive backlash from UK shoppers for refusing to confirm it would suspend orders and failing to stop selling garments and accessories made of angora wool.
Disgusted consumers called for a boycott of Zara and an online petition demanding the shop stops selling angora was signed by more than a quarter of a million people.
It worked.
Yesterday, Zara caved under pressure and suspended all orders of clothes and accessories made from angora wool.
So what can you do? Stop buying rabbit fur garments, demand that the stores you visit do the same, share this article on your social networks and sign this petition on the Peta website.
It’s time to end this.
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Top Comments
I've been a vegetarian for 27 years because I don't want to be part of a cycle of animal cruelty in the Food industries. This is a choice I've made and it's a pretty easy one because there's no famine at present. People in other countries who live with terrible food shortages must do what they can to feed themselves and their families, but if they torture animals (before being stunned & slaughtered ) they will be prosecuted for animal cruelty.
Being a vegetarian does not make a person more superior or moral, but usually their vegetarian choice IS about ethics.
I find it interesting that some people take a defensive position about their own meat consumption.
The comment about "Kill the damn cats" is also interesting..........feral cats are the result of irresponsible cat owners either dumping cats or not having them de-sexed.
Owning any animal as a pet is a huge responsibility.......they have to be cared for diligently for their entire lives ( up to 24yrs in some cases).
All animals must be treated with kindness and medical attention when necessary.
The RSPCA in this country is desperate for assistance & funds so that they can further the prosecution of those people who wilfully & cruelly harm & kill animals of any kind.
If you harm animals you WILL be dealt with by the law.
I'm a bit embarrassed. I didn't know angora was rabbit fur. I bought my brother a pair of leather gloves with angora fur for Xmas and thought it was from a goat. If I'd known this I wouldn't have purchased them and unfortunately they've already been posted to the UK so I can't get him something else. I eat meat and have a leather jacket. The jacket was my grandmothers, I probably wouldn't buy one now and the meat I buy is free range and as ethically sourced as possible (according to the labels).