Moves to ban the trade of cat and dog fur are underway
A worldwide campaign to ban the international trading of animal fur, such as cat fur and dog fur, has begun with Sue Kedgley, member of the Green Party in New Zealand, drafting the bill. Animal welfare groups helped launch the bill in Auckland.
Sue Kedgley stated that the USA, Australia and the European Union had made moves to prohibit the importing of animal fur, which is used for stuffing, among other things.
She stated:
We need to do the same
Otherwise we will become a dumping ground for this unethical trade as markets are closed in other countries.
Each year, more than two million cats and dogs are raised in appalling conditions and brutally slaughtered for their pelts.
The fur is then used to make clothes, toys and trinkets. Dog pelts are even made into chew toys for dogs.
She highlighted the fact that customers buying products in New Zealand had no way of telling whether what they were purchasing contained dog and cat fur or not.
Most cat and dog fur is deliberately disguised and sold using false or incorrect labelling.
An inexpensive DNA test is available so that customs officials could readily identify cat or dog fur at the border.
The bill has now been added to the ballot box in Parliament.
