Is your Faux Fur Collar, Hat or Coat actually Cat or Dog Fur from China?
Cat and Dog Fur being sold as Faux Fur
By Christine Collie
You felt good about buying a coat with a faux-fur collar...you didn't want to support the fur industry. Well think again, and take a closer look at that faux fur because it may just have come off the back of dogs in China.
On Nov. 24, 2008, The Humane Society of the United States filed a lawsuit against six of the nation's largest retailers and fashion designers for engaging in false advertising and mislabeling of fur garments.
The complaint, filed today in D.C. Superior Court, names Andrew Marc, Dillard's, Lord & Taylor, Macy's, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue.
The suit comes after many attempts by The HSUS to curb the fur industry's widespread deceptive advertising and labeling. Since 2005, The HSUS has sent dozens of letters to companies informing them of problems and urging corrective action.
"Despite all the designers and retailers that have gone fur-free in recent years, a hardcore group of heartless holdouts continues to peddle raccoon dog coats to unsuspecting consumers," said Jonathan R. Lovvorn, vice president and chief counsel for animal protection litigation for The HSUS. "These defendants are the worst of the worst, and just don't seem to care if consumers are buying their products thinking they are 'faux fur,' but are actually getting raccoon dog fur from China."
According to a BBC News report, it is estimated that two million cats and dogs are being killed in China by fur traders each year and are being passed off to unknowing consumers as "faux fur".
Wayne Pacelle of the Humane Society of the United States said that cat and dog fur was coming from China where "domestic dogs and cats and raccoon dogs are killed in gruesome ways", often being skinned alive.
Raccoon dogs are members of the canine family native to dense woodlands and forests of Asia, but they are domesticated in China primarily for their fur. Undercover video footage shows gruesome methods used, such as skinning them alive. Estimates of how many raccoon dogs are killed each year range from 1.5 million to 4 million.
The Humane Society of the United States recently subjected a sample of 25 fur-trimmed jackets from a variety of designers and retailers to mass spectrometry testing; all 25 garments were falsely advertised, falsely labeled, or not labeled at all.
The jackets tested were all bought in the United States from a variety of department stores, including Macy's, Burlington Coat Factory and J.C. Penney. Designers and brands included Sean John, Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, it said. Most of the jackets tested were labeled as coming from China.
Twenty of the 25 jackets sampled, or 80 percent, tested positive as raccoon dog fur (from a domestic dog species in China called "raccoon dog" whose fur resembles a raccoon).
None of the 20 raccoon dog fur jackets properly identified the animal - one was simply unlabeled, and the rest were falsely labeled or falsely advertised as "faux fur" or another animal species such as raccoon, rabbit, or coyote.
U.S. law prohibits the import or sale of dog and cat fur products. But if the amount of fur on a product is valued at less than $150, no label is required.
China has no animal welfare laws. Animals killed for their fur in China - dogs, cats, raccoon dogs and others - often face horrible abuse, and are too often skinned alive.
Examples of Deceptive Fur and Faux Fur Ads and Labels:
Last month, Andrew Marc advertised a coat as common raccoon fur on its online Web site, but upon purchase, it was discovered that the garment contained two conflicting labels - one identifying the fur trim as "natural raccoon" but the other identifying the fur trim as "real asiatic raccoon" - the federally required name for raccoon dog.
Last November, Dillard's advertised and sold a "faux fur" coat on its online Web site, even though the jacket was made from real animal fur. Dillard's also advertised, labeled and sold a "genuine raccoon" jacket on its online Web site that was, in fact, made from the wholly distinct species of raccoon dog - a member of the canine family.
Last December, Lord & Taylor sold an Andrew Marc brand jacket labeled as "polyester" fur at its retail store in Kensington, Md. Testing found that this purportedly faux fur garment was actually made from real raccoon dog and rabbit.
Macy's - through its retail division Bloomingdale's - advertised and sold a "faux fur" jacket on its online store in 2007 and again in 2008. However, both of these jackets contained animal fur.
Neiman Marcus sold a coat on its online Web site last November that although advertised as "faux fur," was actually made from genuine rabbit fur. Neiman Marcus also sold an Andrew Marc brand jacket labeled as fake "polyester" fur at its retail store in McLean, Va. Testing later found this jacket to be made from real raccoon dog.
In December 2007, Saks Fifth Avenue advertised and sold a "faux fur" jacket on its online store that was later determined to be made from genuine rabbit fur.
Things to Consider before purchasing any fur or faux fur item:
2 million cats and dogs slaughtered every year
Main exporter: China
12 to 15 adult dogs needed to make a coat out of dog fur
Up to 24 cats needed for a coat made of cat fur
Cat and dog fur also used in hats, gloves, shoes, blankets, stuffed animals and toys
Dog fur is sometimes labelled as: Gae-wolf, sobaki, Asian jackal, goupee, loup d'Asie,
Corsac fox, dogues du Chine, or simply fake or exotic fur
Cat fur sometimes is labelled as: house cat, wild cat, katzenfelle, rabbit, goyangi, mountain cat
H.R. 891, introduced by Representatives Jim Moran (D-Va.) and Mike Ferguson (R-N.J.) in February 2007 prohibits the sale of raccoon dog fur. This bill has 165 co-sponsors, but has yet to be voted on in Congress.
In addition, the bill calls for fur being labeled as such regardless of its monetary value. Currently, the federal Fur Labeling Act only requires that products be labeled as fur if they contain over $150 worth of fur. This stipulation would help protect raccoon dogs and other animals by giving consumers thorough information about products, allowing them to make conscious decisions about what they choose to support or boycott.
Wearing fur or fur trim is cruel and unnecessary. Help save foxes, rabbits, cats, dogs and other furbearers from suffering in the name of "fashion" - Don't buy fur or any "real" looking faux-fur.
When compassionate consumers take a stand against cruelty by refusing to purchase fur and fur trim, designers will stop using fur, retailers will stop selling it, and fashion writers will stop reporting on it as an acceptable trend. You have that power with every purchase you make.
Duke Says:
Fri Jan 16, 2009 12:03 pm
Please see our new campaign at ***furisevil*** to see the crucial role that GOOGLE is playing for China's fur industry.
Ich hoffe, dieses gottverdammte Pack wird irgendwann dafür bestraft.
Annemarie Trabelsi Says:
Wed Jun 17, 2009 7:26 pm
Ich hoffe, dieses gottverdammte Pack wird irgendwann dafür bestraft.
Annemarie Trabelsi Says:
Wed Jun 17, 2009 7:26 pm
Ich hoffe, dieses gottverdammte Pack wird irgendwann dafür bestraft.
Shaynie Aero Says:
Wed Jul 01, 2009 3:51 am
The Chinese are so cruel to animals it makes them demons!We MUST save animals from the Chinese!
leighann Says:
Thu Sep 10, 2009 10:10 am
did any one know that they skin the dogs and cats alive.. most of them are picked up off the streets in china and have owners who never get to see their pets again .... they also have up to 15 to 20 cats in one midume size cage and the same for dogs to most dogs and cats abtaine broken rib cages and legs... not only are they just doing this to dogs and cats they are alos doing it to puppys and kittens aswell ..... yea it is horriable we need to put a stop to this madness who ever is against this like me join peta... its not right to let animals suffer like that its just inhumain to let a poor dog be skined alive and then thrown into a huge pile of other dogs that hade the smae thing happen to them with their heart still beating and them still barely breathing and to sit there and listen to some of them whimper in pain and aggoney i cant stand to even hear it .... its just wrong!!!!!!!!!!
Kim Says:
Fri Nov 06, 2009 2:10 am
The footage of this inhumane practice will make you throw up. Literally. Those of you who don't seem to care... Google the footage and watch every second of it. I dare you.
Ashley Says:
Wed Nov 11, 2009 10:02 am
I AGREE I AM BOYCOTTING A LOT OF CHINA'S ITEMS AND INTEND TO SPREAD THE WORD :) :) :)
Mary Says:
Wed Dec 09, 2009 2:49 am
Stores here in the U.S. are supporting this as they are buying these products. Boycott them - don't do business with them. Tell them you won't buy form them unless they don't buy these products. Get out and front and even picket if you have to. That this is being done and the US is the reason why - no other place is there a market for this except in the good ole USA because our govt. just lets them breeze through. They don't check and they don't test. All fur needs to be checked. And why even allow imports of leathers or fur from China. Just don't allow any of them coming through. God is not happy. We live in a very bad bad world. Such cruelty and meanness. all for the sake of a dollar. low lifes.
julsshadow Says:
Thu Dec 10, 2009 6:48 pm
After watching the video of the chinises fur market I will not ever buy anything made in chani again...Hatefull, cruel, wish i could reach throw the screan!
Ruth Says:
Wed Dec 16, 2009 12:46 am
I don't need to see the footage to get it- I must be careful of what I see or what gets in my mind- I have cats and a dog and they could pick it up and be frigtened. NO animal, cat , dog, wolf, racoon, fox, mink, etc. should be killed for their fur! The Chinese are so depraved about the value of human or animal life hat it maks me wish God would destroy the world and I wouldn't even care if I went with it! Unfortunately, each of us can only do small part in stopping this cruelty- but please do something! I joined PETA!
Gayle Says:
Sat Dec 19, 2009 4:08 pm
Yes, we all need to boycott China! They are disgusting. To all the IDIOTS that say they "love their fur coat" you can SUCK IT. You have to be warped to think you deserve to take lives for a F"N coat!
Kristen Says:
Wed Dec 30, 2009 4:31 am
I bought ear muffs from Burlington coat factory and just realized it is made from "rabbit fur" from china :( I want to get them tested to see if they are really rabbits or cats. My cats get freaked by them and it feels just like one of my cats hair. I don't think rabbit fur is this long.
Christy Says:
Fri Jan 08, 2010 3:31 am
I just bundled up a great winter parka becuz the "faux fur" around the hood looked suspicious, AND it was made in China, and after reading about all these horrors, back to the manufacturer it went!!!! If it's truly "faux" it shouldn't have to be taken off and dry cleaned separately...
Shan Swimwear
