The Facts Behind the Fashion
Taylor Daugherty
California
Many people do not think about animals when they purchase a new fur coat. The exotic fashion and elegance of this luxury item hypnotizes shoppers. What they do not want to face is that this piece of clothing used to be a living, breathing animal. Hunting animals for their fur can produce magnificent fur coats, but hunting can also endanger the survival of some species.
 Millions of animals are slaughtered every year to produce high fashion. In the United States, raccoons, red and gray foxes, beavers, otters, coyotes, wolves, lynxes, bobcats, opossums, badgers, and muskrats are killed for producing fur coats. Thirty to sixty of these animals are often needed in the process of making just one fur coat.
Furthermore, not allowing animals the rights to which they are entitled demonstrates a lack of respect for nature. Many animals die painful deaths in traps. The leghold trap is one of the most common types of traps. When caught in a leghold trap, animals often chew off their own leg. The animal dies of exhaustion, from loss of blood, or may be killed by other predatory* animals. Victims of water-set traps, which are used to catch beavers and muskrats, often experience a long and painful drowning death. For every trap set to kill one particular targeted animal, two to ten times as many animals that are not the target of the trap are also caught in it and killed. These animals are called "trash kills" and are just disposed of.
Certain animal species like leopards, ocelots, sea otters, and some monkeys, are threatened with endangerment due to trapping. Animal species are dying off because humans desire exotic fur coats. When parents of young animals are killed it can lead to further population problems when the young are made vulnerable. Even though some laws have been made to ban some hunting and trapping of animals and the amount of animals killed has decreased, more needs to be done to protect these animals.
What do you value more, clothing and accessories or the lives of animals? People can educate the public on the fur industry and try to convince the government to create laws banning these activities in the United States. Take action against trapping and help save animals who are victims of this inhumane and cruel system.
*Predatory: animals that survive by eating other animals
Becoming a Teen Animal Rights Activist
Megan Anderson, 14
Ohio
If you turn on the Style Network you see fur in many clothing lines; what you don't see are the animal rights activists working hard to stop the use of fur. Many teens believe that animals should be treated with respect, not brutality, and have become animal rights activists. They work hard for what they believe in and other teens like you can help join the fight for animal rights.
There are many ways that animal rights activists work to help animals. Some may stop eating meat and become vegetarian or vegan*. Others may try to stop testing products on animals. Personally, I'm against animal testing and the use of fur in fashion. Many people have no idea what fur farmers do to produce their fur scarf or their fur jacket. That's why you have to get active and speak out! I urge you to stand up for what you believe in and join the other teen animal activists.
Now, I bet you're wondering, "How can I help?" Well, there are so many ways for teens to get involved. One national organization that many teen animal activists are a part of is called PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). PETA will send you free animal rights activist packets so that you can get started. And for those who are already animal rights activists, great job and keep on fighting for what you believe in!
*Vegan: A person who doesn't eat anything that came from an animal or use animal products.
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For More Information
Love Me, Love My Broccoli, by Julie Anne Peters
Careers as an Animal Rights Activist, by Shelby Field
Animal Rights Handbook, by Michael Traub
Please Don't Eat the Animals, by Jennifer Horsman & Jaime Flowers
peta.com
stopanimal
tests.com
humanteen.org
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