Dog Fur is Showing Up on Big Labels

[Guest guest]

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/145021/dog_fur_is_showing_up_on_big

_labels.html

 

Dog Fur is Showing Up on Big Labels

By Christine Moers

 

That " faux fur " collar on your favorite jacket may actually be dog fur,

taken from raccoon dogs, skinned alive, The Humane Society (HSUS) said in a

statement released on Wednesday.

The current law has a massive loophole, which allows clothing trimmed with

$150 worth of fur to be sold without a label. Animal fur is typically

sheared and dyed in such a way to appear " faux, " which could lead you to

grab that jacket off the rack without knowing you are purchasing real animal

fur, and quite possibly dog fur.

 

The particular fur in question comes from raccoon dogs, a nocturnal resident

of Asian and northern European forests.

 

Lawmakers have had enough. Reps. Jim Moran (D-Va.) and Michael Ferguson

(R-N.J.) re-introduced federal legislation on February 7 to protect American

consumers and animals from the fur trade.

 

It is illegal to use dog and cat fur in the United States. This legislation

requires labeling on every fur garment. It would also ban the import and

sale of raccoon dog fur.

" The raccoon dog and domestic dogs are being killed in inhumane ways for the

U.S. trade, " Moran told FOX News.

 

The HSUS has graphic video available on their web site, showing the horrific

treatment of the raccoon dogs, as their heads are slammed into the ground

and many are skinned alive.

The ongoing investigation by the HSUS has uncovered raccoon dog fur on some

of the biggest names in fashion.

 

The report shows dog fur sold online as " faux " by Bluefly.com, Nordstroms

and Tommy Hilfiger.

Some fur on coats labeled " raccoon, " but which are actually raccoon dog,

were being sold online by Loehman's (via Smartbargains.com), Dillard's, and

Neiman Marcus. Berdorf Goodman and Footlocker, also selling the garments,

labeled them as " rabbit. "

 

There were unlabeled or misidentified raccoon dog fur on jackets sold by

DKNY, Lord and Taylor, Ross, D.E.M.O., Rocawear, Macy's, Baby Phat, J.D.

Penney and Burlington Coat Factory.

 

In an interview with FOX News correspondent, Molly Henneberg, Tommy Hilfiger

said that it stands behind its previous statement, saying the company rarely

uses fur. When real fur is used, it come from the U.S. and meets all laws

and regulations, they said.

 

Macy's gave FOX News a company statement which said it has a standing policy

against selling anything with dog or cat fur, and that any violation is

" pursued vigorously " with suppliers. The inaccurately labeled products are

" removed from our stores and online sites, " said the statement.

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