In the BBC story

it's not clear exactly what's going on.

Since the US has banned the trade of cat and dog skins, the European market has expanded.

I wonder when that ban was put in place, but the story doesn't say.

A video seen by BBC correspondent Tim Franks shows one Belgian furrier displaying a blanket he says was made from cats farmed in Belgium.

What is more, he says that stray cats and dogs are rounded up and skinned.

If it's illegal (and in the US at least there are anti-cruelty laws that would probably apply in such situations), then that should be investigated and appropriate action taken.

They said it was up to national governments to ban the trade in cat and dog fur.

Alsatian coat

So far, though, only Italy has brought in such a ban.

[..]

Campaigners accuses the European Commission of lacking the political will to address the issue, arguing that the trade is not only morally repugnant, but also a case of consumer fraud.

The sidebar:

Campaigners claim 2 million cats and dogs slaughtered every year

Main exporter: China

12 to 15 adult dogs needed to make a dog fur coat

Up to 24 cats needed for cat fur coat

Cat and dog fur also used in hats, gloves, shoes, blankets, stuffed animals and toys

Dog fur sometimes labelled as: Gae-wolf, sobaki, Asian jackal, goupee, loup d'Asie, Corsac fox, dogues du Chine, or simply fake or exotic fur

Cat fur sometimes labelled as: house cat, wild cat, katzenfelle, rabbit, goyangi, mountain cat

If it's fraud, then it should be prosecuted.

Andrew writes:
I just don't see that farming cats and dogs is significantly different from farming pigs.

I think there are several issues:
1) cultural
2) animual cruelty concerns
3) fraud

PETA would probably be most concerned about #2, while consumer advocates would be most concerned about #3, while Jane Q. Public would be concerned by #1. Objectively, if animals are specifically raised for commercial purposes there's little difference between farming dogs and farming pigs. If animals are being rounded up off the street and skinned illegally, then I think that's different.

My $0.02.

Cheers,
Scott.

Post #102,446 by Another Scott 5/18/03 1:09:35 PM Reply	In the BBC story it's not clear exactly what's going on. Since the US has banned the trade of cat and dog skins, the European market has expanded. I wonder when that ban was put in place, but the story doesn't say. A video seen by BBC correspondent Tim Franks shows one Belgian furrier displaying a blanket he says was made from cats farmed in Belgium. What is more, he says that stray cats and dogs are rounded up and skinned. If it's illegal (and in the US at least there are anti-cruelty laws that would probably apply in such situations), then that should be investigated and appropriate action taken. They said it was up to national governments to ban the trade in cat and dog fur. Alsatian coat So far, though, only Italy has brought in such a ban. [..] Campaigners accuses the European Commission of lacking the political will to address the issue, arguing that the trade is not only morally repugnant, but also a case of consumer fraud. The sidebar: Campaigners claim 2 million cats and dogs slaughtered every year Main exporter: China 12 to 15 adult dogs needed to make a dog fur coat Up to 24 cats needed for cat fur coat Cat and dog fur also used in hats, gloves, shoes, blankets, stuffed animals and toys Dog fur sometimes labelled as: Gae-wolf, sobaki, Asian jackal, goupee, loup d'Asie, Corsac fox, dogues du Chine, or simply fake or exotic fur Cat fur sometimes labelled as: house cat, wild cat, katzenfelle, rabbit, goyangi, mountain cat If it's fraud, then it should be prosecuted. Andrew writes: I just don't see that farming cats and dogs is significantly different from farming pigs. I think there are several issues: 1) cultural 2) animual cruelty concerns 3) fraud PETA would probably be most concerned about #2, while consumer advocates would be most concerned about #3, while Jane Q. Public would be concerned by #1. Objectively, if animals are specifically raised for commercial purposes there's little difference between farming dogs and farming pigs. If animals are being rounded up off the street and skinned illegally, then I think that's different. My $0.02. Cheers, Scott.
Post #102,457 by altmann 5/18/03 4:47:10 PM Reply	OT: Feed the rats to the cats, and the cats to the rats... ... and get the cat skins for nothing. [link\|http://www.snopes.com/critters/disposal/catrat.htm\|http://www.snopes.co...sposal/catrat.htm] [link\|http://www.punkbands.com/lyrics/bands/huskerdu/ndr.htm#13\|http://www.punkbands...skerdu/ndr.htm#13] -- Chris Altmann
Post #102,477 by scoenye 5/18/03 9:26:44 PM Reply	At least a little urban legend in the making there There has been a reduction in the population of strays in large cities because the authorities have started to clamp down on the food put out by do-gooders. In some areas, the stray population had reached pest proportions. Then sometime later, a woman reported "asians" catching dogs on the streets. Then everyone suddenly noticed that "a lot" of the strays were missing. Next in line is then the furrier reporting that cats and dogs are being harvested on the streets for their fur. (And just imagine that: a fur coat made of mangy, flea-ridden mongrels with no two matching pieces...)

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