The Fur Trade

Shockingly, over 70 million animals are killed for their fur every year around the world. Don’t support an industry built on the deaths of animals.

The Irish Fur Trade

Government finally agrees to a ban after 2 year campaign

On 2nd October 2018, the ‘Prohibition of Fur Farming Bill 2018’ was introduced in the Dáil by TDs Ruth Coppinger (Solidarity), Paul Murphy (Rise) and Mick Barry (Solidarity).

After almost 2 years worth of campaigning, on the 24th June 2019, the Irish government finally agreed to ban fur farming in Ireland, and released this statement on 25th June 2019.

You can read our press release about it here.

On 4th April 2022, the President of Ireland signed the fur farming ban into law.

For a history of the campaign, check out this documentary by Melissa Mullen Films, which kicked-started the successful campaign to finally ban fur farming in Ireland.

Ireland's fur trade has finally come to an end, but globally 70 million animals a year are still suffering.

The animals murdered by the fur trade every year include mink, fox, rabbit, chinchilla, raccoon, coyote, sable and wolf.  Even cats and dogs are used – many of whom are skinned alive.

Mink are kept in cages with a floor space equivalent of just 2 shoe boxes. They are usually gassed to death by carbon monoxide- up to 40 mink at a time are put into the killing box. This results in a majority being merely unconscious - not dead - when they are being skinned.

Foxes are kept in cages just 1 metre square (2 fox per cage). They are killed by electrocution – utilising a 12 volt car battery with a transformer of 200 volts. Electrodes are clamped to their mouth while rods are inserted into their rectum and an extremely painful death ensues.

Despite what the fur industry claims, rabbit fur is NOT a by-product of the meat industry. Millions of rabbits are bred specifically for their fur each year and they are killed by either having their necks broken or their throats slit.

For wild animals, leg-hold traps are used. The traps work by clamping the animals' leg, biting deep into the flesh. The victims wait a long time, growing weaker through pain and attempts to escape, before the trapper returns to kill them by clubbing or suffocation.

It’s time for a Complete Ban on the Global Fur Trade!

A lot of hats, scarves, gloves, jackets and keyrings are made from real fur – even though the label may not say it, and even if they are not expensive!

Pom pom hats and scarves in particular are almost always made from real fur. Due to insufficient labeling, an item may have “100% Acrylic” listed on the tag, without stating what the “outer” is made from, leading consumers to think they are purchasing faux fur.

Some items may have no label at at all, but are so cheap, the consumer assumes it can’t be real fur. Sadly, it usually is.

Don’t take a chance – if you’re not certain it’s faux, please don’t buy it! Already have it and aren’t sure? Contact us for advice!

For a helpful guide on how to tell the difference between real and fake fur, check out this video by our friends at Respect for Animals

They also have a ton of factsheets and statistics which they update regularly!

So, what are we doing about it?

Protests

We regularly organise protests outside shops, markets and department stores that sell real fur. Would you like to join our next protest? Please get in touch!

Awarness

Every Autumn/Winter season, we conduct a 'Fur Patrol' of Dublin City Centre, documenting every businesses we find to be selling real fur. Once our list is compiled, we approach each store with information on how cruel the fur industry is. Often, this results in the company adopting a fur-free policy.

Lobbying

Our next plan is to ban the importation and sale of real fur in Ireland. A number of councils around the country, including Dublin City Council, have already pledged their support of this, by passing council bans on real fur. Sadly these bans do not apply to individual shops in their jurisdictions, but it is still a great step toward the total elimination of the fur industry here.

We have various campaigns running at any one time. Please click to learn about more issues!

NARA is a legal, grassroots level organisation that only operates within the law. Information on this website is for the purpose of legal protest and information only. It should not be used to commit any criminal acts or harassment. NARA is not affiliated to any other animal rights group. NARA has no links or involvement with the Animal Liberation Front or the Animal Rights Militia. Any articles published on this web site relating to illegal activities are posted for the sole reason of publishing news related to animal rights, and are not intended to incite or encourage similar acts.

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