Through Our Eyes

The Netherlands has just signed momentous legislation ending mink farming. With the Netherlands ranking as the third largest producer of mink fur, this is a huge landmark accomplishment for protecting animals against cruel treatment. The ban will take place starting in 2024.

The Netherlands is apparently ahead of the pack since they already ban farming of fox and chinchilla (it should be noted that the UK has banned fur farming since 2003 and Austria and Croatia have similar prohibitions). The Dutch farming industry has expanded from 3 million to approximately 6 million pelts per year, produced by 170 mink farms. It is indeed encouraging that, as Joanna Swabe, Humane Society International EU director notes, “…the majority of the Dutch senate has not allowed economics to prevail over ethics, recognizing that it is unacceptable and cruel to keep animals in small, wire cages to be killed for their fur…”

Hopefully other countries will follow and will ban the cruel treatment of caged animals for fur. How can you help? Refuse to buy mink, fox, or other animal furs.  

There is a reason to celebrate in the name of wildlife and the day to celebrate was yesterday, December 4, which was the first Wildlife Conservation Day with a press release by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton making the announcement.

The goal behind the establishment of a special day to celebrate wildlife is to bring awareness about wildlife trafficking to the forefront. More people need to know about this crime that has reduced the number of elephants and rhinos at an alarming rate in a short period of time. Many species are endangered and more and more are ending up on that list almost daily. If you’ve followed any of the blogs for Eye Help Animals, you already know this. The US is working with other countries to strengthen their own laws and wildlife enforcement networks from Central America to South Asia are being established.

Our Eye Help Animals supporters already know how they can help and it is important for others to follow – refuse to purchase products made from endangered wildlife (see our Sept/Oct, 2012 Eyes Alive newsletter to read an article about the slaughter of Elephants for ivory and our May/Jun, 2012 Eyes Alive newsletter for information about the killing of rhinos for their tusks). Stand up and speak out for the animals who cannot speak for themselves. Tell your government that you will not tolerate this mistreatment of wildlife. Take the pledge to protect endangered animals: www.wildlifepledge.org.