Fur-Free Contest Winners Make a Difference for Animals

Nicki Pace, Jay McCarroll & Theresa Spero Galbraith. (HSUS)

By Loren Drummond

Theresa Spero Galbraith of Orlando, Fla., a self-described "Internet junkie" recently put the web to work spreading the word about the cruelty of fur. Theresa won The HSUS' Jay McCarroll Fur-Free contest for persuading 123 people to sign the Fur-Free Pledge.

"I just got an email, and sent it to all my friends. I always do," Galbraith said. "I said, 'Hey, I know you all are animal lovers. Sign this." 

Theresa brought her niece Nicki Pace, a 23-year old resident of Kansas City, Mo. with her to Jay McCarroll's show, sponsored by The HSUS. Theresa described the experience as, "the coolest, most remarkable … I wanted more." It was their first visit to the Big Apple.

What inspired Theresa to action?

"When you do something that you know in your heart is right to stand up for, what you believe in, every person can make a difference," she said.

Her interest in helping the tens of millions of animals who suffer and die for their fur stems from her love of companion animals. She has rescued stray animals since she was young. She and her husband even have a cat named Feral, a former stray, along with a dog, Tags.

"I've had dogs and cats all my life," she said. "They just give unconditional love."

Danielle Eastman, a new member of The HSUS online community and contest winner from Chicago, and her guest Darick Maasen, sat front row with Theresa and Nicki at McCarroll's show.

Darick Maasen and Danielle Eastman. (HSUS/Grzybowski)

During the after party, Danielle showed off pictures of her 12-year-old cat, Buddy ("I'm in love with him") on her cell phone, and she said she hopes the fashion industry will now "be a lot more conscious" about the cruelty of fur.

Darick hopes to see more of an emphasis on animal-free clothes. "There is such a huge vegan market," he said.

The contest winners represent a growing trend of socially conscious consumers. They are regular people all over the country taking action for animals and directing their purchasing power towards animal-friendly designers, retailers and companies.

Along with an emerging fur-free consciousness in fashion, and the Fur-Free Campaign of The HSUS, these lucky contest winners are making fur-free fashion ready to wear.

Loren Drummond is associate editor for www.hsus.org.

See the Video

Cats and Dogs are Companions, not Coats

Cruelty by Design

Related Links

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Dog and Cat Victims of the Fur Trade