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.
As many of you are aware, we at SAV have had a real gripe with the EU for many years now, and for not enforcing its OWN Regulation, 1/2005 of 22nd December 2004 on the subject of the Protection of Animals During Transport.
Animals Angels have produced an excellent report regarding the complete myths of enforcement of Regulation 1/2005, which is the EU’s own rules on alleged animal protection during transport.AA have kindly permitted us to show their report; and we include the link here for you to click and review.
During 2016, AA met with all the Chief Veterinary Officers of all EU member states; trying to convince them to get the EU Commission to take the initiative because there was a refusal to change the law. Even if we ever get to the point that a new law is drafted, there is risk that some worse provisions will be introduced in favor of the meat industry. They are too close to the EU Commission and animal welfare comes a poor second, as we have exposed with EU animal exports to Turkey for example.
Please have a look at the excellent report on the myths of Regulation 1/2005 by clicking on:
There is a lot of data and information for anyone who wishes to write further on the subject. We would also encourage people to send the link to their MEP’s; who despite being mainly supportive of modification, are not able to get changes due to inaction by the EU Commission.
Here are some links to some of our recent posts on the subject. We are also providing the links to the videos of EU – Turkish live exports; for which the EU inform us they can do nothing despite the Regulation supposedly ‘protecting’ animals during transport.
Posted on December 4, 2016 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
These are the bile farm bears we’re trying to get home
04 December 2016
These six bears have lived for years on a Vietnamese bile farm – we’re desperate to get them “home for Christmas” and the happiest new year of their lives.
Trapped in medieval-looking cages, six forlorn moon bears – four males and two females – peer out. Through these tiny holes they can see precious little of an outside world they must surely believe has forgotten them.
Each one has routinely suffered the agony of bile extraction. Their cages are lined up side by side but they’ve never been able to reach out and touch a friend. Surely their memories of sunlight and nature are all but gone.
Now, with your help, Animals Asia hopes to rescue them. The Forest Protection Department (FPD) of Dak Lak province where the bears are being kept has been pressurising the owner to give them up. If successful a small window of opportunity to finally end their suffering will open and the rescue team won’t dare delay.
Animals Asia’s Vietnam Director Tuan Bendixsen said:
“We’ve been putting a lot of pressure on Forestry departments in the region to force farmers to give up their bears and it’s starting to bear fruit. Thanks to our welfare work helping rescued elephants like Jun and Gold in the province, we’ve earned the trust of the local Forestry.
“They know that if they can convince the farmers, we can move quickly, take the bears and give them the health care, companionship and happy lives they deserve.”
Any rescue would be a major undertaking – moving six bears, 1,300km from Buon Ma Thuot city back to Animals Asia’s Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre in Tam Dao, just an hour outside of Hanoi.
Animals Asia founder and CEO Jill Robinson MBE said:
“The bears desperately need help. It’s likely that they have been trapped in these tiny cages for up to a decade each. All we know about their health is that they have been tapped for bile and they have most likely lived without any vet care.
“Our priority now is to get them out of there. Then we take their pain away, build up their strength and give them a new life.”
The past wounds of so many precious bears have healed and elders like Bronwyn snooze peacefully in the sun.
And at this very moment, your gift is busy helping another poor bile bear as he or she takes those very first steps to sanctuary and freedom.
Thank you for being such a remarkable friend to animals in need.
I wanted to be sure and let you know that your kind gift has reached us safe and sound, and is already working hard for the animals of Asia. For the bears abused on bile farms, the dogs and cats vulnerable to cruelty and for the forgotten captive wild animals.
None of our efforts… not the rescues or the rehabilitation or the medical care or the outreach or the food and safe haven… none of it would be possible without you.
With the happiest of holiday bear hugs from all of us here,
Jill Robinson, MBE, Dr med vet hc, Hon LLD Founder and CEO, Animals Asia
Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) 
