Raccoon dogs, a wild canine species unrelated to the wild raccoon found in North America, are farmed in intensive confinement and are subsequently killed using inhumane methods such as inflicting repeated blows to their heads with wooden clubs to stun the animals before skinning them alive. Raccoon dog fur from China is commonly used for trim on the collars of jackets and other garments.

 

"We applaud Burberry for making this humane move and ending its use of fur from China," said Michael Markarian, executive vice president at The Humane Society of the United States. "Chinese fur farming practices are among the most cruel and barbaric, and we hope that other fashion houses and designers will follow Burberry's lead."

 

In a statement issued to The HSUS, a Burberry spokesperson said, "Clear evidence came to light of extreme cruelty inflicted on animals by the fur trade in China. We acted immediately to cease all use of this particular fur and have stopped sourcing fur from China." The international retailer has stores on five continents, including 32 stores in the United States.

 

With no functioning animal welfare laws, and a huge supply of cheap labor, China has become central to all aspects of the fur trade, including fur factory farming and the production of finished fur garments.  According to industry sources, China is the second leading producer of caged animals for the international fur trade and is the largest manufacturer of finished fur products and garments in the world.  China is the top exporter for fur to the United States; half of all fur apparel entering this country comes from China.

 

Due to a loophole in the federal labeling law, hundreds of thousands of fur-trimmed garments sold in the United States are not required to include any product information such as the animal species or country of origin. Industry practices such as dying and shearing fur make it nearly impossible for consumers to tell whether unlabeled fur is real or faux. Congressmen Mike Ferguson (R-N.J.) and Jim Moran (D-Va.) have just introduced H.R. 4904, the Truth in Fur Labeling Act of 2006, to close this loophole and require labeling of all fur apparel.

 

"It's important for socially responsible retailers to implement corporate policies against cruelty, and it's just as important that our public policies give consumers the right information for their purchasing choices," added Markarian. "With the infusion of Chinese fur into western markets, and with the continued killing of dogs and cats for fur in China and Eastern Europe, consumers have a right to know what's on their collars and cuffs."

 

Since 1997, The Humane Society of the United States has documented China's unregulated and excessively cruel fur industry practices including the raising and killing of domestic dogs and cats for sale to the fur trade. In a 2004 undercover investigation animal welfare groups Swiss Animal Protection, Care for the Wild International, and EAST International found raccoon dogs and other furbearing animals slammed against the ground and skinned alive for the fur trade in Heibi, China.

 

A compilation video including footage of raccoon dogs, domestic cats and dogs, and other undercover footage from China provided by The HSUS and Swiss Animal Protection was shown to Burberry executives by Heather Mills McCartney prior to their decision.

 

Footage from the undercover investigation may be viewed online. 

 

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization with more than 9.5 million members and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals, disaster preparedness and response, wildlife and habitat protection, marine mammals, animals in research, equine protection, and farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy and field work. The nonprofit organization is based in Washington and has field representatives and offices across the country. On the web at  www.hsus.org.