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Fur fury knows no end

Cape Town – The fur fury seems to know no end, as countless Fin24 users wrote in to express their sentiment over a shop in South Africa selling luxury fur.

However, the owner of Erich Fischer Furriers felt he was vindicated, writing in to say that the responses to the original story were overwhelmingly for the fur trade. “Those opposed are mostly part of the anti-fur brigade anyway,” wrote owner Robert Fischer. “Therefore, they have to comment to back their ‘team’, whereas mine were from everyday people, mostly whose opinion counts most.”

Fin24 user Yvonne van Zyl agreed: “The world is burning, but people are battling with ‘fur’or ‘No fur’.  Is it not about time to try and solve more important issues, for example the Ebola Epidemic?”

- Read what other Fin24 users have said.

But these Fin24 readers felt strongly about the anti-fur movement.

Fin24 user Jenny McMahon said the fur industry was barbaric. “With all the new modern textiles on the market now, it is unnecessary to use fur to keep ourselves warm. It is used only to beautify rich, vain women.”

Fin24 user Anastasia Karagiannidis said she was shocked she lived so close to the shop. “I am an animal lover and would like to state that I am horrified that such a shop exists so close to where I live,” she wrote.  “I will gladly join the activists outside this shop  in protest.”

Fin24 user Clairwyn van der Merwe wrote: “OA [origin assured] label or not, there is no such thing as humane killing. That goes as much for killing a cow or pig for its meat, shooting a lion for a trophy or skinning a seal, chinchilla or cat (quite common, apparently) for its fur. The problem with fur is that it is a luxury item. People who wear it can’t even use the excuse that they are hungry. They know very well that an animal, or more likely many animals, died for their whims.”

Fin24 user Ruth Valdes said consumers need to know the truth about how these animals were tortured and slaughtered for their skin or fur. “We have been misguided with their labels and that there are other fashionable materials that are not from animals that can be used to look and feel the same as the real animal skin or fur,” she wrote.

Fin24 user Jennifur Thurmer said she has lots to learn about animal rights:

“I am against any, and all, forms of cruelty to animals. I am not a vegetarian, but perhaps becoming one. I do wear woollen garments, and shoes made of cow leather. I have had these attitudes for decades. It is only since I have seen images and read texts on the cruelty perpetrated on animals that I have begun to think about all forms of abuse of animals. It is confusing, and personal decisions have to be made.

“What really causes sleepless nights and growing unrest (and anger) in my mind is the unanswerable 'why are we allowing this to happen?' - when most of it is so unnecessary, and why is it allowed to continue? Really, put simply the fur trade is the most barbaric of the animal industries - as it is so unregulated and secretive and causes so much abuse of animals, and anguish in children and many adults.

“For me, as I have had this awakening, I now believe that to continue with fur farming in any form is not right. This is total exploitation of creatures that do not exist for our next fashion idea. Cruelty is cruelty however it is disguised. Humans have a brain - and can do good or can do wrong - and any Christian would have to agree that this is so very, very, wrong. Greed and ignorance, coupled with apathy and turning a blind eye is the only reason this industry keeps going.

“I do not support labelling fur products with certain 'approvals' as there is always the likelihood of corruption, turning to look away, lack of funds for proper inspections etc. as soon as the fur industry closes down will not be soon enough for me - an obviously growing numbers of others.”

-Fin24.

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