Would you do it?

[Karla]

Would you visit a mink farm?

 

All winter mink farming here (we are the biggest producers of mink fur in the world) has been under a lot of criticism as animal rights activists sneaked into the farms and filmed the conditions the animals lived under, and it was aired on national tv. Apparently, the control officers even tell the mink farmers 3 months in advance before they come to check on them, and the mink industry can decide which farms should be checked (so naturally only those with minks living under acceptable conditions are visited). Anyhow, I am strongly against mink farming, and the pictures of what is going on breaks my heart.

 

My boyfriend has not wanted to discuss the topic as he doesn’t believe he is getting the right information from either part – and honestly, it is not something he is overly concerned about.

 

Now, the mink farmers are doing a charm offensive, and everybook can book a tour around any farm they want. So..I thought that might be an idea. To show my boyfriend that it is disgusting and well, so I can tell people that yes, I have seen it, and no, I do not support it. But I know my mind won’t be changed, even if they live under the official acceptable conditions…and I know the things I will see will be something that will haunt me for a long time, as animal welfare means so much to me. So, is it worth it? And what if in fact my boyfriend thinks it is okay?

My concern is that I won’t be able to sleep at night from what I have seen (I’m really sensitive when it comes to animals), my boyfriend’s concern is that it will be smelly and noisy.

 

So, would you do it?

 

[Sarita]

The only way I would do this is if it would actually help affect a change. Is this going to help change the animal’s living conditions, not if it’s a charm offensive by the mink farmers. It’s a publicity stunt obviously so they are going to show their farms at their best.

Just going to see and be upset is not reason enough especially if it’s something I’m already offended by…I don’t see a point in that at all. You know already how you feel so why do you need to feel worse?

[Karla]

Hmm, thing is…I feel that if I want to argue for my viewpoint on mink farming, I need to have my facts straight and actually been to a mink farm.

But I guess your point about the publicity stunt is true. I’ll problably not have access to those minks with stereotypical stress behaviour and with open wounds at all, and the mink farmer will decide what I get to see, so I still won’t have an actual idea of what is going on.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I agree with Sarita. They will certainly not let the public see the worst conditions. They don’t want to put themselves under any more fire.

If you are strongly opposed to the fur industry (and I agree with you completely) you don’t need to see firsthand. You can stand up for yourself and the minks without putting yourself through the trauma of going there. If you are really adamant about needing proof to support your beliefs perhaps you have a friend or relative who could go in your place, take pictures, document things, etc. Someone who would not be so sensitive to seeing the things that go on firsthand. That’s what I would do in your position. Seeing the minks will bother you greatly I am sure and short of breaking in and busting them out there is really nothing you can immediately do to change their fate on that particular farm.

Having said that I just want to add that I am strongy of the belief that one strong willed person can make a change.

If you are intersted in obtaining materials (pamphlets, etc) to hand out to people to support your cause, pm me and I can send you some links to great anti-fur websites.

[Sarita]

Also, the best way to change things that I’ve seen is through the law – that’s what the HSUS is slowly doing for farm animals in the US – they have a very large lobby effort in the US government.

You will always find people who agree with your point of view on this and honestly that is not going to be enough to advocate change if the law is not on your side. I don’t mean that to be negative either – I mean that because it’s really the truth.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I agree Sarita but gaining public interest is often what can start the ball rolling on changing the laws. New Brunswick recently started a province-wide petition through rallies and putting up posters to change the laws regarding penalties for cruelty to animals and they listened and passed a law giving much bigger fines and jail time for offenses.

[Andi]

I see part of what your asking, correct me if i am wrong… “I want to be able to debate my feelings on the conditions these animals live in, but as I have not seen one in person, how can someone take me seriously?”
Close?

And so if it was me, i would reserach and go down there myself. I’ve seen enough neglect/cruelty to animals that I can sleep at night, but it still dosn’t make it easy. I don’t believe everything I see/read on TV, and I do not agree with extremist sites and some of their information, as I belive many bend the thruths to make thier point stronger. But I do believe in what I see with my own two eyes.

So depending on if you want a strong case to put towards soemthing bigger (having laws made), then i say get your hands dirty, but if it’s just debating with others and you feel you may not eb strong enough to whittness cruelty first hand, then just stick to talking to others.
my 2 cents… or maybe 1.5 :p

[Karla]

Yes, Andi, it is actually just to be able to be more convincing if the topic comes up. If I tell people I’ve actually seen what goes on, my words will be stronger. They cannot just say “oh, that is just what the extremists want you to think”.
I mean, regardless of the conditions the animals live under, it is against my principles to breed animals and keep them in captivity just to finally kill them for luxury goods, such as fur, so it is not that I am not sure what to think of it. And I have seen plenty of pictures of the mink farms, so I know I won’t like what I see.

Also, I want my boyfriend to see it. I just want more people to understand.

It’s not a case of politics. I’m already a paying member of most of these animal rights groups, that fight these battles, and also a new political party with animal welfare as its frist priority. So that battle is already on and being fought by those with political and rhetorical expertise.

I just went into their website. There are 1460 mink farms here. I can visit 24 of them…well, that says it all, doesn’t it? I will only have access to those that they have cleaned up. Hmpf. Anyhow, just read: we breed 14 million minks a year! At least they live a short life, poor things.

[Sarita]

Can I ask you how often does this topic really come up? Not trying to be sarcastic or anything, but honestly unless it something I bring up myself with friends and family, animal rights just doesn’t come up. Only with my friends who are already into rescue and animal welfare.

I totally agree with you on this but I wonder how often it will truly come up that you can talk about it.

That is alot of mink farms. I think in the US it’s becoming more and more taboo to wear fur and it’s definitely politically incorrect.

[Karla]

Well, it did come up quite often during wintertime. But other than that, no, you are right. I actually never bring up those topics myself and I rarely bother discussing things like that with people. I don’t even know people who wear fur.

Case closed. Not going to a mink farm. Thank you for input and comments. I really couldn’t figure out if I should or not.

About the fur industry – I think in the western countries, it is becoming less acceptable, but China is the leading importer of fur, as more and more people are getting wealthy there. I think they buy something like 80% of all the fur. In some European countries, it is illegal now to do mink and fox farming, which is excellent. But then again, as someone argued, it is better that those farms are in European countries under control and not in China.

[Andi]

Have you read about the Zoo’s new restaurant menu in China?
Now there’s something to read… just sickening.
The news stories that come out of that country just shock me… “are you joking me?” … I wonder if it’s just for shock value sometimes.

[Karla]

No. Link?

Not sure I want to read it though! I know a lot of people who have been to China, and I read about what happens there in regards to animals in the newspapers, so I know there is definitely room for improvement.

[Andi]

http://www.aolnews.com/world/articl…u/19487483

Thats one, there are many more.

[Author]

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