Don't get caught in the fur trap
10 week anti-fur educational campaign
Wall to wall fur trim outerwear. That's what I saw while checking stores on Queen Street West in Toronto. One particular store had a large silver sign proudly displayed outside their store that read "Canada Goose Room." I decided to check out this "room." I was overwhelmed with the smell of death in the air from all the
coyote pelts, fashioned on hundreds of Canada Goose Jackets. Being in that room, and seeing so much death strengthened my desire to find out if people new what they were buying when they purchased any brand of outerwear that had fur trim. I wanted to know if consumers were okay with the fact that animals were inhumanely killed for a fashion trend.
We set up our demo in front of the store, Bragging about the Canada Goose Room, and began a 10 week campaign aimed at educating the consumer, as well as educating ourselves about why the streets are filled with fur trim winter wear.
We found that what most consumers didn't know is that body gripping traps are still legal in Canada and that companies like Canada Goose use coyote trim which comes from animals being imprisoned and killed in
leg hold traps. Traps that have been banned in many countries around the world, but not ours.
We had a great deal of support from animal advocates who helped us educate people by holding signs or speaking to people passing by. Some consumers who purchased fur trim outerwear from the store returned their jackets after getting the facts from us. Others decided against buying jackets with fur. Instead they went to stores we recommended that have
fur free policies. Many people stopped to thank us for being there. Some even picked up a sign or leaflet and joined us. We got hugs and thanks from people grateful we were there, and of course remarks from people not happy to see us. Because some people aren't able to handle that they've been lied to and are not ready to hear the truth.
Through the rain, snow and bitter cold the 10 week campaign was a huge success. We learned a great deal and educated a lot of people about trapping and the fur industry.
I want to thank everyone who took part in the demonstrations, I also wanted to thank everyone who returned their fur trimmed jackets, and all the people who will be wearing cruelty-free outwear this winter because they cared enough to listen.
If a coyote trapped you
How would you feel if a coyote trapped you?
bopped you, stomped you, and choked you too.
you now lay in fear, cold and hungry you wait
confused and alone you suffer in grim fate
you try and try to break free as you bleed
until your skin they take, as they hear you plead
Never will you see your loving family again
never will you feel the comfort of your warm den
So next time you want to wear someone's fur
and you find yourself caught by a trendy lure
ask yourself one simple thing before you do
How would you feel if a coyote trapped you!
Written by Jasmine Polsinelli
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