Denmark will slaughter 15 million mink on fur farms over pandemic concerns
We are calling on the Danish government to turn around the tragedy now playing out on its fur farms by transitioning fur farmers to more humane livelihoods and closing down Denmark’s fur industry for good. Photo by Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals
Reports from Denmark this week are making it clearer than ever that mink fur farming is a public health minefield and an animal welfare nightmare.
The European nation announced that it would slaughter all 15 million mink on its 1,000 fur farms following concerns that a mutation in the virus that has infected the mink could possibly interfere with the effectiveness of a vaccine for humans. According to news reports, 12 people have already been infected with this mutated virus, which shows a weak reaction to antibodies. Half of North Denmark’s 783 human cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, are also related to mink.
This is the latest in a growing mountain of evidence of the serious public health risks associated with mink fur farming. Concerns emerged when the Netherlands reported the first cases of infected mink on its fur farms in May and followed up by slaughtering millions of animals. Coronavirus infections have since been reported on mink fur farms in Spain, Sweden, Italy and the United States.
The Netherlands also reported the first cases of the virus jumping from mink to workers on fur farms—the only known cases of animals transmitting the virus to humans (besides the first coronavirus infection supposed to have originated at a wildlife market in Wuhan, China). In August, the Dutch government made the welcome decision to move up its deadline for ending mink fur farming by two years, to 2021.
Today, we are calling on the Danish government to turn around the tragedy now playing out on its fur farms by transitioning fur farmers to more humane livelihoods and closing down Denmark’s fur industry for good.
Fur is already in decline globally and it makes no sense for Denmark to restart this industry. The past few years have seen steep drops in pelt prices and stockpiles left unsold at fur auctions. Fashion designers and retailers are moving away from fur, and consumers are increasingly choosing humane, manmade alternatives that look and feel like fur.
The reason for this change is growing awareness about the terrible cruelty of fur farming. Animals on these farms, including mink, foxes, rabbits and raccoon dogs, are confined for their entire lives in tiny, filthy cages, unable to act out the simplest of natural behaviors like swimming or running, as our investigations have shown. Now, with the pandemic, these animals are paying a heavier price than ever for frivolous items that no one needs to wear. This has to stop, and the Danish government has the perfect opportunity to show other fur-producing nations how to do so.
Que estupidez que no se dan cuenta de el daño que le estamos haciendo a los seres vivos por creencias sin fundamento que lo único que hacemos es acabar con nuestro planeta
Thank god animal fur is on the decline. Their fur only looks good on them, not the narcissistic, selfish humans who wearbthe skins of these innocent animals who are BRUTALLY, SADISTICLY MUDERED, just so these humans can quench their thirst for blood….because blood is on the hands of both the humans who murdered them and the narcissists who insist on wearing their skins.
I am disgusted with the human race and the lives they take. This kills me to hear this, can’t they go to a sanctuary? This is criminal!
Completely agree!
Agreed!! So cruel 😢
We have solution related covid -19 problems for animals.
I am overcome with disbelief and anger that a supposedly civilised people have no other answers to this problem other than killing. How savage , how medieval! Stop breeding these poor creatures, in the first place, for the perverted desires of human beings, the most base and cruel of all living creatures. We are not alone on this planet and must learn to be tolerant and share it with other species.
This is the most horrible thing to do to these poor animals. Please stop it!!!
End this brutality
God gave these amazing furs to these animals to where not for rich people to flaunt !!!! STOP SLAUGHTERING THESE AMAZING ANIMALS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Animals are not ours to abuse. There are so many fur alternatives available now that KILLING animals indiscriminately for their skin is an outdated and horrible practice.
These places need to be shut down for good! No animal should be treated inhumane and suffer so ……just for fashion!
Just please let them go out to the wild. First they have to live like this only to be slaughtered. So much evil!!
STOP ALL FUR FARMS FOREVER!!!!!!
Faux fur works just fine. Sincerely, a veterinary student that hates to see animals used in this way.
They should free all animals and remove all fur industries immediately! How can someone be someone be so cruel and ignorant and don’t care they have Blood on their hands of thousands innocent animals.
They deserve freedom and love and DESERVE TO LIVE!!!
Give them
To a Sanctuary
😞😢😢💙💙💙
What is being done to put a stop to this??? Any way I can help please let me know.
This makes me sick, there is no logical reason to slaughter these animal’s or to make fur belongings for human beings. God did not put animals on this earth for the profit of man’s greed. There are sanctuaries out there for animal’s, do the right thing !
Omg!! What can we do? This is barbaric
That is so wrong !!!
Stop this barbaric act!Have some compassion!
People better be careful how they treat GODS CREATURES!! Vengeance is Mine I will repay saith the Lord God Jehovah!! Proverbs 12:10..
Please don’t this!!! Release them into the wild!! This is senseless!
This is so wrong in so many way, God please be merciful and help us brake this cicle.
Please be merciful and do not kill these poor little animals! Thank you!!
There has to be a more humane solution than murdering these innocent mink. They aren’t all infected. I am sickened by their “solution “.
God help them, because man is the problem. I expect another global “cleansing” a la Noah any day. Pray for humanity 🙏 💔 😢.
Please have compassion for these animals. Institute a cruelty free and humane way for these farmers going forward