Boycott Lemieux

[MotherOfChickens]

The problem is its actually quite hard to avoid leather. I dont believe non-leather bridles are accepted under rules for competitions for example? Whereas I can definately avoid fur.

is that correct? I dont compete (so I dont know) but have switched over to synthetic for daily due to our lovely climate. you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference between Tekna synthetic and leather, even close up.

 

[Flicker]

Of course not, how silly. I see no difference between fluffy leather (fur) and cow leather (every bit of tack you own).

I’m choosing not to spend my money with them, not because they were selling fur, but because their response to finding out that their product had been fraudulently supplied and had therefore denied their customers with the information they needed to make an informed choice was basically to shrug their shoulders and say ‘soz’. There was no mention of what they will do to clean up their supply chain or source transparency to make sure this doesn’t happen again. And, as I said in my earlier post, the fact that their target audience is supposedly animal lovers, makes this a very tone deaf response. I would have serious doubts about their competence to deal with other consumer issues relating to their products.

 

[Peter7917]

This is dog hair from China. You know, the country who skin them alive. It's in no way comparable to some of the examples given. I want absolutely no part in such disgusting cruelty.

 

[ester]

That is what I never understand with the leather argument. If I am buying english leather from a cow/calve processed in a UK abattoir that is in no way comparable to a chinese racoon dog being raised and processed for it's fur.

I think it was BBC3 that did an interesting program a while back about wild caught and farmed furs and the trade in general.

 

[ozpoz]

The 'live skinning' and truly terrible death that animals have in China, for the fur trade is beyond awful. I won't use fake fur now, because it is just really difficult to tell what it is. I don't believe that there is such a thing as 'ethically farmed fur' and there was news recently of well known luxury brands using fur from China. Too grim.

 

[tristar]

i always thought that french veal calf`s meat was made pale by keeping them in the dark

 

[Keith_Beef]

i always thought that french veal calf`s meat was made pale by keeping them in the dark

There used to be "crated veal", where the calf was kept in a narrow stall and given diluted milk in a bucket. I seem to remember that this was practised in Belgium, but Wikipedia tells me that it's still practised in the US and in Canada.

I rarely eat veal, and when I do it is usually that "gros veau" that I mentioned above.

 

[Cortez]

The 'live skinning' and truly terrible death that animals have in China, for the fur trade is beyond awful. I won't use fake fur now, because it is just really difficult to tell what it is. I don't believe that there is such a thing as 'ethically farmed fur' and there was news recently of well known luxury brands using fur from China. Too grim.

I fully agree that the Chinese fur trade is beyond barbaric (animal welfare in total in China), but you cannot be guaranteed that ANY animal product has been produced humanely I'm afraid, including good old "English" leather.

 

[Keith_Beef]

I fully agree that the Chinese fur trade is beyond barbaric (animal welfare in total in China), but you cannot be guaranteed that ANY animal product has been produced humanely I'm afraid, including good old "English" leather.

I think that the only way you can absolutely certain about how a thing is produced is to do it from scratch yourself...

Unfortunately, it's not an option for me to use a fallen tree branch to scratch in the earth to get some iron ore, smelt that with other fallen branches to make iron, then make charcoal and refine the iron to steel, make myself some tools, and also raise an animal then use the tools to butcher the animal and tan its hide to make leather, while at the same time planting and harvesting a field of flax to make thread so I can sew the leather into horse tack...

At some point, we have to trust somebody else to do what he says he will do; if he declares that he raises livestock and slaughters it humanely, we have to think "is he trustworthy", or if he has some kind of certification "can I trust the certifying body"...

 

[Rollin]

There used to be "crated veal", where the calf was kept in a narrow stall and given diluted milk in a bucket. I seem to remember that this was practised in Belgium, but Wikipedia tells me that it's still practised in the US and in Canada.

I rarely eat veal, and when I do it is usually that "gros veau" that I mentioned above.

Rules have changed and we no longer have crate veal but my O/H was buying hay one day and found the farmer had lots of calves rammed into stables. They could not lie down or turn round. It is my understanding that the reason the flesh is so white, is the calves are deprived of forage - they long to chew, as do our horses. I won't buy veal for this reason.

OP, Countryfile did also say there will be a Govt investigation with regard to fake fur which contains animal fur. I certainly would not want dog or cat fur, as someone has already said, skinned alive. The McCartneys did a big campaign on this years ago. I wish horse rugs were NOT made in China.

 

[Goldenstar]

It's not fur per se that's the issue, but it's source. China.

I agree with I have no issue with fur but big issues with fur from China .
Years ago I watched a OU programme on telly when I could not sleep.
It was about a family living in the wilderness ,proper wilderness once winter came they could leave until spring I think it was in Canada might have been the US .
They lived an amazing life the programme followed their year , the children where enducated by Radio they harvested the wilderness to live in winter the husband trapped wild animals for fur and this was their main source of cash for things they had to buy oil , for the generator, for the skidoo and the outboard Motor for the boat
And the food stuffs they needed to buy canned veg for winter, dairy and flour things like that and clothes of course .
They lived an amazing life and they hardly touched the environment they lived in it changed my attitude to fur .
I will stick my head up and say I have two fur gilets one mink ( probably farmed ) and one artic fox which is probably made from wild pelts .
Both are older than me both will go on for many more years although the mink is past its best , by the time they are no longer wearable their environmental footprint will be tiny .
The man made fleece we find warm and convenient to wash is made from oil how sensible is that verses wool ,a by product of raising sheep meat these things are complicated .
But Fur from China no .

 

[ester]

I fully agree that the Chinese fur trade is beyond barbaric (animal welfare in total in China), but you cannot be guaranteed that ANY animal product has been produced humanely I'm afraid, including good old "English" leather.

Well no, you can't guarantee but I've been in enough UK abattoirs to be happy that the end of life at least is generally nothing like the death that chinese fur trade animals have.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

This, considering calf leather is what everyone wants now, so that cannot even be considered a by product. Not that most leather is a by product of an animal produced for meat anyway.

Surely we would be better using sustainable farmed fur for good sources the same as we would source our food.

That is right Leather is a by product and not killed for it's leather. (not reptiles though)

 

[Cortez]

That is right Leather is a by product and not killed for it's leather. (not reptiles though)

I don't think the animals would make any distinction between being killed for their flesh or their hides: they're going to be just as dead for our convenience either way. I am completely behind the principle of humane treatment for any animal, but getting all outraged because of a bobble hat is frankly misplaced.

 

[ester]

I think there is more history behind it than the bobble hat though. It is well known that it is cheaper to produce real fur than synthetic fur and that there have been a lot of products on the market that are marketed and sold as fake when they are in fact real. I can completely understand why people wouldn't be happy with that.

Fur trims and bobbles do seem to be randomly very popular at the moment, I don't understand the bobble thing at all, hopefully 'fashion' will get over it at some point.

 

[tallyho!]

The great thing about standards is that there are so many to choose from.

Well then you could choose the standards based on your own moral compass. If you have one.

And yes, veal is farmed in UK and no they are not in crates but barn reared and the UK standards are exacting with inspections and weight tracking every 4 weeks. They are the most lovable little things, so friendly and gentle. It makes me cry every time I walk past.

Needless to say my moral compass has changed somewhat in the past few years.