Lunch Time Links #6

Being back at work isn't so bad, is it?  January is a difficult month (in my opinion) but we're half way through the week already and ready for the weekend!  Here is your first Lunch Time Link for 2012 and to ease you in gently there is just one action for you this afternoon:

Ask bebe to ditch fur (Caution: some graphic content)

Thank you!

Breaking Animal News

Raccoon Dog

{image source}

Every morning I scan through the National Newspapers for interesting animal related articles to share with you, earlier today I was stunned to read the following article entitled How dogs are dying for your fake UGG boots.  I must warn you that the article is disturbing reading and left me reeling and extremely angry.  However, I am very glad this has been reported.  It is important to note as well that the article is mainly expressing the disappointment and the journalist not being able to get a REAL pair of UGG boots with only a passing mention to the plight of animals (yes, this made me angry as well) but within the article is some useful information that we can utilize. 

In summary:

In China raccoon dogs, who are related to the domestic dog, are kept in horrific conditions and then skinned alive on a fur farm so that their fur can be used on products like fake UGG boots.  As there is currently no ban on this fur being sold there is a risk that consumers may be fooled into buying imitation UGG boots produced with the fur of the abused raccoon dogs.

UGG boots are made from sheepskin (which I am vehemently against) and UGG Australia claim that their sheepskin is produced in a humane way.  Fraudulent websites are selling cut price UGG boots labelled as 100% sheepskin when in actual fact they are trimmed with real animal fur.

What can we do?

Don’t buy UGG boots or imitation UGG boots

Read the article and share it with your friends

If you do come across a website selling fake UGG boots report them to the Metropolitan Polices e-crime unit

Two sites mentioned in the article are clearanceuggsoutlet.co.uk and uggbootsukonline.co.uk so another idea would be to visit these sites and attempt to contact the owners with your views on what they are doing – try to keep it polite and informative.

It may be worth leaving a comment at the bottom of the article like I have mentioning that it is a pity that obtaining a real pair of UGG boots seems to be the only issue causing concern.  In order to leave a comment you need to register first.

If I hear of anything else we can do you will be the first to hear about it.

Thank you.

Ask Harrods' New Owners to make it FUR FREE

Source.

Did you know that Harrods is the only department store in the UK that still sells real fur items?  Harrods has recently been sold to a new company (Qatar Holding) which provides an ideal opportunity for us to contact the new owners and ask them to adopt a fur free policy.

Animal Aid have asked that we write polite, informative letters and/or e-mails to the Embassy of Qatar in London and to Quatar Holding, informing them of your opposition to Harrods' involvement in the fur trade. 

Things to emphasise:

1. The majority of people in the UK are opposed to the use of animals for their fur 

2.  Fur farming was outlawed in Britain in 2001. 

3.  A fur-free policy at Harrods would prove extremely popular amongst the store's customers.

Addresses:

Qatar Embassy in London
FAO: His Excellency Sheikh. Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani Prime Minister of Qatar.
1 South Audley Street, London W1K 1NB.

Email it@qatarembassy.info, london@mofa.gov.qa

Qatar Holding
FAO His Excellency Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah
Chairman
Qatar Intermediate Industries Holding Company Limited
P.O. Box 28882 Doha, Qatar

Email info@qh.com.qa, qh@qh.com.qa

PS ~ When I have written my e-mail I will post it here as a template or you can just copy and paste it to save time if you prefer.

Spotlight on Leona Lewis

Last night I went to see Leona Lewis, the 2006 winner of X Factor and a long time heroine of mine. Not only has she got a beautiful voice and masses of talent but she is a shy yet strong, unassuming, modest woman with a fierce love for animals. The show was fantastic and at the beginning it featured a video of her on a beautiful white horse which was just stunning.

An example of Leona's conscience and love of animals was highlighted perfectly back in October 2008 when Mohamed Al Fayed offered her $1 million to open the Harrods sale. Leona turned down this offer because Harrods stocks clothes made from real animal fur. She later told The Big Issue magazine "I got a lot of flak for that. There were people who said I should have done it and given the money to charity, but that would have been such a contradiction."

Leona was PETA's Person of the Year in 2008 and also a supporter of World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA).

[Leona in her own words]