Urge Miss Maryland Pageant to Drop Fur Prizes | Demand J Lo Stops Promoting Fur

Artist, Stanley Ashton | New College Stamford

1. Urge Miss Maryland Pageant to Drop Fur Prizes

2. Demand J Lo Stops Wearing Fur

1. Background | From Change

The Miss Maryland pageant continues to give away fur prizes despite knowing that animals killed for their skins live in cramped, filthy conditions before being killed by electrocution, neck-breaking, or gassing. Most fur comes from China, where animals—including dogs and cats—are bludgeoned and even skinned alive for their fur, as seen in this brief video narrated by Eva Mendes (below).

The Miss Florida competition has just announced that it will no longer give away fur prizes, and many top designers—including Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, and Stella McCartney—and retailers such as J. Crew and Forever 21 now refuse to use or sell any fur products, in part because young consumers are largely opposed to the cruelty of fur. More and more public figures are shunning fur—and not just actors and models. Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy recently announced that they are fur-free too.

Please give a voice to the animals who suffer and die for their fur and urge the Miss Maryland pageant coordinators to set an example of compassion by pledging not to give away fur prizes in future pageants.


Related | Eva Mendes Takes a Look at the International Fur Trade

Vodpod videos no longer available.

2. Background | From Change

No matter where it came from, every fur coat, trim, and trinket caused an animal tremendous pain and suffering, and ultimately took away its life. Animals in fur farms spend their entire lives confined in cramped, filthy wire cages. Fur farmers use the cheapest and cruelest killing methods available, including suffocation, electrocution, gas, and poison.

Animals who are trapped in the wild can suffer for days from blood loss, shock, dehydration, frostbite, gangrene, and attacks by predators. They may be caught in steel-jaw traps that slam down on their legs, often cutting to the bone; Conibear traps, which crush their necks with 90 pounds of pressure per square inch; or water-set traps, which leave beavers, muskrats, and other animals struggling for more than nine agonizing minutes before drowning.

During the annual Canadian seal slaughter, tens of thousands of baby harp seals are shot or repeatedly bludgeoned with clubs tipped with metal hooks. Also in Canada, hundreds of black bears are shot at point-blank range or caught in traps and left to suffer for days so that their skins can be used to make the ceremonial hats worn by Queen Elizabeth II’s Five Guards’ Regiments.

Jennifer Lopez is one of the largest celebrity supporters of fur. She has been seen on many occasions wearing fur for photo shoots, music videos and at awards shows. Lopez claims she would like to be educated on why fur is cruel, yet after repeated videos, photos and information have been relayed to her, she continues to turn her back on the cruelty and buy fur for herself. Lopez also uses fur in her fashion line.

Please join us in asking Jennifer Lopez to stop using fur, thus saving the lives of millions of innocent animals.

See More:

• Fur-Free Retailers | Vegan Retailers
• Fur | Skin
• Fur-Free Friday 2010 Footage

beauty is as beauty does
killing for fur is not pretty
and that’s the buzz
so do not wear it
do not share it

Karen Lyons Kalmenson