Animals have been used as clothing since the beginning of time. But even now that there are so many animal-free alternatives, this trend has yet to cease, as many brands still kill for their luxurious products rather than find a cruelty-free alternative. For example, Canada Goose is well-known jacket brand that many people wear, especially high school and college students. These trendy jackets have been at the center of many protests, including a recent one at the Prudential Center Mall in Boston, MA. Edward Tyler, an animal rights activist, wants to “tell people they are wearing fur of either a coyote that died after it was caught in a leg hold trap, likely for days without food and water.” He goes on to say that the coyote’s offspring most likely died because their mother was busy trying to escape a leg trap.
Does hunting coyotes lead to cubs dying without their mothers?
Trapping season is restricted to winter, and coyote pups are born in mid-to-late spring. Therefore, these two times should not interfere and leave pups defenseless without their mothers. That being said, coyotes are social creatures and the loss of any member of their pack will probably be felt no matter the season.
Are coyotes an invasive species that needs to be controlled?
Coyotes are a highly populated and invasive species that are not afraid of people. They kill farm animals and hunt a lot of game such as rabbits, deer, and turkeys. So, in order to control their population, hunting them may be the best option because at least, this way, they are being put into use.
On the other hand, a creature causing harm doesn’t necessarily make it morally or ethically right to kill it. Moreover, the Humane Society wrote this article on why killing coyotes is not an effective method of population control and may actually make it worse. Basically, when coyotes are killed and their packs are broken up, the lone coyotes are more likely to mate, rather than be a non-mating member of a cohesive pack.
Are coyotes left for days in painful or inhumane traps?
According to this Newsweek article, in most states, the standard is that traps must be checked every 24 hours (but that standard only needs to be met 80% of the time). Canada Goose says they get coyote fur ethically, “in accordance with the Agreement of International Humane Trapping Standards in Canada and the Best Management Practices in the United States.” The Agreement of International Humane Trapping Standards (AIHTS) was signed by the EU, Russia, and Canada and established in 1997 to set a standard for trapping wild animals. The AIHTS is an agreement to develop and use only humane traps, and intended to get rid of all leg-holding traps. Currently, the steel jaw leg hold trap is banned, but barely altered ones with rubber casings are still in use and can be very painful and puncture skin or break bones. However, according to the agreement, 80% of animals must “not show any signs of poor welfare”. This means that the animal doesn’t show any signs of severe injuries such as haemorrhages or amputation from the trap. This is difficult to accomplish, so the ethicality of the agreement is questionable.
Are geese killed for their down?
Canada Goose has said that they only use down from geese that have already been killed for meat production. They do not use down from geese that have undergone the inhumane practice of live plucking, where geese are held down while their feathers are violently plucked from their skin, and after they are completely plucked, left until their feathers grow in before being plucked them again, in a long and painful cycle.
Is faux fur worse for the environment?
According to the Wall Street Journal, in 2018, the fur industry launched a major campaign about the environmental impact of faux fur. So keep in mind where this idea comes from—but it is true that fur is biodegradable and faux fur is not.
Here’s the truth: faux fur is made out of made from synthetic polymeric fibers such as acrylic, modacrylic, and/or polyester. These are all different types of plastic, which is already a bad sign in terms of evaluating environmental impact. Plastic is made from different sources like coal, water, air, and the non-renewable source: petroleum. As I have mentioned here, plastic is highly detrimental to the Earth and its oceans. It is not biodegradable, as it takes thousands of years to degrade, and its production adds to pollution in the air. Therefore, although real fur may be inhumane, it may be better for the environment
Ethical Alternatives
However, there is an alternative called Eiderdown, which are feathers collected from the wild eider duck of Iceland. This down is plucked from the female’s breasts or gathered from the nest lining, where the soft feathers protect the young birds from the Arctic cold. Additionally, Eiderdown is only collected after the chicks have already left the nest. Companies that choose this method of gathering down feathers are being more considerate about avoiding animal cruelty.
Many students may not be aware of the harm they are causing by simply buying a warm jacket for the winter. But Canada Goose and companies like them torture and kill many animals for their fur, and it must be brought to buyers’ attention. Fortunately, Canada Goose was able to create fur-free parkas in response to the outcries of animal rights advocates. However, these coats still include goose down. From fur to leather to feathers, many animals suffer for human fashion statements. There are man-made substitutes for all kinds of animal fashion products, meaning that there is no longer any need to spend excess money on a product that kills. Not only should you stop wearing animal products, but pressuring big companies like Canada Goose to reduce their harsh treatment of animals can make a huge difference. In the past, Gucci, Michael Kors, and many other fashion brands have come out as fur-free. By signing petitions like these, you can convince Canada Goose to follow in their footsteps.