We were all celebrating when world-renowned luxury brand Armani agreed to officially go fur free.
We were delighted that such an influential brand in the fashion industry as Armani decided to end the use of real fur- what a blow to the fur trade!
Mink farming ended in Japan!
The breeding of mink for their fur in Japan is over after the country’s last remaining fur farm shut down.
We were celebrating a few weeks ago as the Dutch Supreme Court upheld the ban on fur farming.
The Court ruled that the ban on fur farming is NOT in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights.
The fur trade was desperate to overturn the ban and this victory was a win for animal lovers everywhere.
One day fur farming will be banned everywhere.
The fur trade took a hit with a big drop in global mink fur production.
One of the largest fur auction houses, Kopenhagen Fur, reported that the production of mink pelts had fallen by 25%- from 72 million to 54 million year on year.
This was largely due to the collapse in the price of pelts, which followed high levels of over production as many new fur farms opened in order to cash in on a big rise in demand for fur several years ago (particularly in China).
International experts discussed fur farming ban legislation
Respect for Animals attended and co-organised an international seminar in Prague to discuss legislation that could lead to a ban on fur farming in the Czech Republic and elsewhere across Europe.
Among the speakers was the globally recognised expert on foxes Professor Stephen Harris, who co-authored Respect for Animals’ recent comprehensive scientific report into the welfare of mink and foxes on fur farms (read it here). Also in attendance was the Labour MP Maria Eagle, who introduced the Private Members Bill to ban fur farming in the UK, backing Respect for Animals’ national campaign.
Ricky Gervais backed Respect for Animals’ #SayNoToFur online campaign. Our #SayNoToFur social media storm was launched by cricketing legend Jason Gillespie who was soon joined by many of our social media supporters, who dowloaded our anti-fur poster and sent us your picture. Celebrities Ricky Gervais and Jane Fallon got in on the act too!
Chinese superstars including Karen Mok and Olympic boxer Zou Shiming turned out for Animals Asia’s annual Blue Moon Gala to raise awareness and funds to help the country’s moon bears.
Movie stars, sporting heroes and models brought glitz and glamour to a night dedicated to China’s moon, sun and brown bears with nearly 300 guests in total showing their support.
Not only did the Grand Hyatt Shanghai event bring much needed funding to Animals Asia’s China Bear Rescue Centre, but the presence of so many big names has helped to publicise the NGO’s animal welfare work throughout the country.
Click on the above link to read more and see more photographs.
We’ve just gotten a Christmas surprise! Our friends from the amazing Danish organization UFFAC have sent us yet another load of high quality kibble, knowing that we’re constantly struggling to feed the kitties!
This awesome Christmas present couldn’t have arrived at a better moment, as our food storage was almost empty.
Thanks to the awesome animal lovers from Denmark, more than 130 Felix kitties will have the opportunity to celebrate the holidays with full bellies 🙂
Our heartfelt thanks go to the wonderful people from UFFAC and their donors who are making this gloomy and cold end of December special for our furry little protegés.
Please look at all the posts and support any you can with a donation to help cover their costs – Thank You – SAV.
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Chinese dogs enjoy vaccinations, de-worming – and a taste of Christmas
22 December 2016
Some of the poorest dogs in Chengdu enjoyed a taste of Christmas kindness thanks to the Animals Asia staff who provide them with year-round health care.
Many of the local dogs around Animals Asia’s China Bear Rescue Centre in Chengdu live bleak lives. They are fed an unsuitable diet, given little love or affection and are mostly kept chained up as guard dogs.
That’s why Animals Asia goes into local communities year round to spread awareness of animal welfare and provide health care for the animals.
In a typical month this will include vaccinations, de-worming and de-sexing, but with Christmas approaching, staff wanted to do something extra special for the unfortunate dogs they have grown to love over the years.
With red Santa hats on, the team went into local villages to give the animals some doggie treats they had never seen before – a taste of Christmas kindness they could never have imagined.
Animals Asia Veterinarian Sheridan Lathe said:
“It was really lovely to give these treats to the dogs. Many local families don’t have money to spare on dog food or treats so most of these dogs have never tasted anything except rice with occasional left overs.
“They get really excited when they see us because they know we will bring them something tasty. Seeing the joy on their faces as they devoured the new treats was heart-warming!”
Having earned the trust of the local villagers over the years, Animals Asia staff are free to visit the dogs at any time to provide health care, companionship or even to take the dogs for walk to gain much needed exercise.
Sheridan said:
“By keeping the local animals healthy, we create a protective ring around the bear sanctuary of healthy animals which reduces the risk of diseases, such as distemper, spreading on site.
“But this work is also important in that it improves the welfare for these local animals. We not only give them vaccinations and de-worming but also discuss diets and proper animal care with the owners.”
Away from the Chengdu sanctuary, Animals Asia also runs a Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) fund project in other parts of China to help control stray populations humanely.
In 2016, the fund helped four local groups to successfully neuter and release 517 stray cats in Shanghai, Beijing, Qingdao and Guangzhou.
With Animals Asia’s support another local group Shanghai Focus Neuter has managed to achieve a 70% neuter rate among strays in several of the communities where they operate.