ALBANY, N.Y. – The HSUS is urging quick passage of legislation in New York that would ban an especially inhumane method of killing animals for their fur: electrocution.
State Sen. Frank Padavan is the prime sponsor and Sen. Serphin Maltese is the co-sponsor of the Senate version of the bill, S. 2495, and Assemblymember Scott Stringer is the sponsor of the Assembly version, A.19. These are the first bills of their kind to address the inhumane and painful death inflicted each year on thousands of foxes, mink, chinchillas, and other animals who are raised in intensive confinement for fur coats and fur-trimmed apparel. The bills are rapidly gaining support and several Assembly members, including Audrey Pheffer and John Levelle have signed on in the space of only a few days. Additional assembly members include John McEneny, Daniel O'Donnell, Joan Millman, Steven Englebright, Mark Weprin, Richard Gottfried, Deborah Glick, and James Brennan.
"Electrocution is one of the most inhumane and gruesome methods of killing animals for their fur, and it's a main ingredient in many fur-trimmed jackets, hats, and handbags in New York's shops and boutiques," said Nancy Perry, HSUS vice president for government affairs. "We applaud New York's state legislators for working to end this cruel and unnecessary practice."
Animals in fur factories spend their entire lives cramped in tiny cages. All their natural instincts—running, digging, mating, socializing and hunting—are stifled, and they are turned into fur-producing machines.
Electrocution is often used to kill farm raised fur-bearing animals since it is inexpensive and does not damage the pelt. However, electrocution is not an approved euthanasia method according to the guidelines of the American Veterinary Medical Association. The AVMA considers electrocution appropriate only as a stunning method to be used prior to another method of euthanasia, not as a one-step killing method as it is commonly used on fur farms.
When animals are electrocuted through their anus or genitals, which is typical on fur farms, the electricity does not go through and stun the brain; the animals must remain awake and feel the full excruciating force of a massive heart attack. According to the AVMA, "Use of a nose-to-tail or nose-to-foot method alone may kill the animal by inducing cardiac fibrillation, but the animal may be conscious for a period of time before death. Therefore, these techniques are not acceptable."
Although the practice has been recently exposed in the United States, and is believed to be still occurring, even industry trade groups say they do not sanction anal and genital electrocution. According to Fur Commission USA, "the only method of euthanasia approved by Fur Commission USA is bottled gas, either pure carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide."
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization with more than 8.5 million members and constituents. The non-profit organization is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals and equine protection, disaster preparedness and response, wildlife and habitat protection, animals in research and farm animals and sustainable agriculture. The HSUS protects all animals through legislation, litigation, investigation, education, advocacy and fieldwork. The group is based in Washington, DC and has numerous field representatives across the country. On the web at www.hsus.org.
