CNN: Humane Society: 'Faux fur' often dog hair

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http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/02/07/dog.fur/index.html

Humane Society: 'Faux fur' often dog hair

* Humane Society found 24 of 25 " faux fur " jackets made from dog hair

* Fur is taken from the raccoon dogs native to Asia and Northern Europe

* Jackets sold in major department stores, Humane Society says

* Lawmakers introducing legislation that would ban import of raccoon dog fur

From Sally Holland

CNN Washington Bureau

 

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Many fur or fur-trimmed jackets sold in the

United States as having " faux fur " -- or not labeled at all -- are

actually made, at least in part, from dog fur, the Humane Society of

the United States said at a Capitol Hill news conference Wednesday.

 

Out of 25 jackets that it tested, the group said, 24 were incorrectly

labeled. In many cases, it said, tests showed the fur came from

raccoon dogs, nocturnal residents of Asian and northern European

forests that bear a remarkable resemblance to raccoons.

 

It said it had bought the jackets 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. (Watch Humane Society spokesman explain where

the fur comes from)

 

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.

 

Lawmakers move to ban imports

 

Rep. Jim Moran, D-Virginia, said consumers are being duped into

buying garments that are trimmed with fur but are mislabeled as faux

fur or not labeled at all.

 

Moran said he and Rep. Mike Ferguson, R-New Jersey, plan to continue

their efforts to plug the loopholes that allow such products, in part

by adding the raccoon dog to the list of outlawed furs and requiring

all products to be labeled, regardless of value.

 

The two representatives said they have reintroduced legislation they

first put forward during the last session of Congress.

 

The Humane Society said that it is in discussion with many of the

department stores that sold the garments it tested, and several had

pulled such products from their stores when shown the group's

findings.

 

In a statement posted on its Web site, the Humane Society said its

ongoing investigation into fur products found:

 

* Dog fur sold online as " faux " by several major retailers.

 

* Raccoon dog fur on coats sold online as having

raccoon or rabbit fur.

 

* Mislabeled or unidentified raccoon fur on other jackets.

 

 

 

Find this article at:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/02/07/dog.fur/index.html

 

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