Question:
Can anyone tell me if they know about this as I have just found out about this?
It is thought that tens of thousands, possibly hundreds of thousands of cat and dog skins are traded in Europe each year.
Here is a link to the story
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3009537.stm


Answer:
I do not know anything about this, but the members who are in Europe might have more news for you.
Seems the issue is the pelts are being mislabelled, therefore consumers are not aware of what they are REALLY buying. And also the claim of seeing the animals being skinned alive is quite disturbing. I hope that more investigative reporting is done on this issue!


Answer:
Why is this still been done when men has no need for fur any more? Or am I the only one to feel this way about this kind of thing, taking fur form animals is wrong, sometimes I just feel bewilder about mankind and all the things that we do for no reason.


Answer:
Yes, all kinds of animals are skinned all over the world for their hides. This includes fur and leather. Cats, dogs, reptiles, mink, foxes, chinchillas, seals.. I could go on and on but why bother? Using non-renewable resources such as petroleum to make fake fur isn't much better. At least fur is a renewable resource that doesn't put money into the hands of the oil tycoons that run the world.
The pelt/pet debate has been done over and over and over and always results in the same conclusion:
Different people have different opinions and they should be respected. There are people on this forum who are devout vegans who don't wear an animal product in any way shape or form and there are people who pelt and we all get along just great!
And this post was in no way meaning to sound hostile, rude, nasty etc. Just stating my point of view!


Answer:
Surly we do not need to be breeding or kill animals just for there fur, that’s what I think I’m not trying to get anyone on or offside I just think it so wrong and there is no need for it.


Answer:
your definately not alone with the fact that some people believe that animals should not be raised for fur!! but there are people out there that INSIST on using animal fur to wear.
I have seen on the news somewhere where there is a big WANT for cats and dogs furs to wear.. especailly german shepard.


Answer:
thebing, of course you can have your own opinion. That’s not what I was trying to say. As soon as anyone mentions wearing fur, people want to state their very strong opinions on the issue. It has always erupted into nastiness (here and on every other forum, too)and that’s what I really don’t want to see happen.
I would never wear a real fur coat, nor a fake fur coat. I just can't see the need for either, lol. Skinning dogs and cats for coats is now a "trend" and it's something that is done to supply the demand. Who is demanding to wear German Shepard? God, I hope I neve ever have to find out..


Answer:
Makes me think of the movie '101 Dalmations' where the puppies are kidnapped for their fur. I think that when people hear that dogs and cats are being skinned, it tends to elicit a more emotional response because these animals are seen as pets and companion animals.
There are definately people out there who are totally against any type of fur wearing at all and like Ilse mentioned, the fur debate has been done on a lot of forums (though not as much on POTN).
However, let's keep to the the topic which is the article about skinning dogs and cats, not just the fur trade in general.


Answer:
I hope this isn't off topic. I watched a documentary several years ago about eating cats and dogs. I was the most emotional thing I ever watched. Part of the footage took place in Korea, where they were dunking live cats in boiling water to make all the fur come off the skin. Yes, when we in American society totally see cats and dogs as pets, this has to be the most gruesome way those "pets" can be treated.
Is it possibly a cultural thing? Stigmas attached to certain animals? I know when we lived in Holland we ate horse meat, and that is not something that is done here either but it was perfectly normal over there..


Answer:

do you guys think its okay to pelt an animal if its already dead?? like if they find a dead bear in the woods,,is it okay to take their fur then???
I personally dont see a problem wth that ,,the fur could be cleaned and what not