Dog and Cat Fur: Aftermath of an HSUS Investigation

Two years after The HSUS first exposed the horrors of the dog and cat fur trade, the United States enacted a ban on dog and cat fur. It is now illegal to import, export, or sell products containing dog or cat fur in the United States.

The Dog and Cat Protection Act of 2000:

Set penalties of up to $10,000 for each item containing dog or cat fur.

Made it possible to prohibit repeat offenders from selling any fur products.

Called on the U.S. Customs Service to publish a list of businesses and individuals known to trade in dog and cat fur.

Directed the U.S. Customs Service to certify laboratories that are qualified to determine whether an item contains dog or cat fur.

Established a $500 reward for information leading to the successful imposition of a civil penalty, forfeiture, or debarment for violating the law.

Taiwan Bans Dog and Cat Fur

In January 2001, Taiwan's parliament passed a major animal-protection bill that banned the slaughter, sale, or consumption of dogs and cats for their meat or fur. The fine for violating this law is TWD $300.

Philippine Cat Fur Trader Busted

A Philippine cat fur dealer was charged with violating the Philippine Animal Welfare Act of 1998, which prohibits the mistreatment or torture of an animal and the killing of non-food animals. When they raided a house owned by Gina Custodio, The Butuan City found the remains of butchered cats as well as live cats in bamboo cages. Custodio's business, Custodio Enterprises, apparently exported the cats' fur to Japan (where it was used as lining for boots, purses, and coats). Custodio paid children to catch stray cats and even taught them how to strangle the cats.

Italy Enacts a Ban

In 2003 the Italian government enacted a permanent regulation to replace the Ministry of Health's emergency ordinance of 2002 banning the import, sale, and possession of dog and cat furs. The ban was inspired by demonstrations against the secretive trade in dog and cat fur in nine Italian cities and the discovery of dog fur items on the shelves of two of Italy's leading department stores.

Denmark and France

Denmark approved a regulation banning cat and dog fur in the summer of 2003. France signed into law a regulation that bans cat and dog fur in that country on November 7, 2003, and immediately called on its customs officials to enforce the law.

European Union Seeks to Ban Dog and Cat Fur

In conjunction with the Fur Free Alliance, The HSUS is working to bring an end to the trade in dog and cat fur in Europe. A number of our European counterparts have launched dog and cat fur campaigns in their own countries, bringing this atrocity to the attention of an increasingly wide audience.

Australia Bans the Import of Dog and Cat Fur

In May 2004, the Australian government amended the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956 and the Customs (Prohibited Exports) Regulations 1958 to ban the import and export of fur from domestic cat and dog species. Minister for Justice and Customs Chris Ellison told the media that the government took action in part because of the more than the 9,000 comments in support of the ban from citizens across the country. Ellison stated that it was the largest volume of correspondence he had received on a single issue in almost four years as minister.

To read The HSUS's brochure, Betrayal of Trust, download the PDF.

To read the Dog and Cat Protection Act of 2000, passed after Congress learned of The HSUS's investigation, download the PDF.

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Related Links

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