Horror of Cat and Dog Fur Trade Set to End

3.27.28pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 19th Jun 2007

Sharon and Saffy the dog

Sharon Bowles, South East Liberal Democrat MEP, today expressed delight at the European Parliament's vote to ban the trade of cat and dog fur across all European Union (EU) countries.

Sharon Bowles said "I have for years been an active campaigner and have continually expressed my outrage at the cat and dog fur trade. Although I have been frustrated at how long it has taken the EU to move towards an all out ban I am glad that we are now well on the way and almost there."

"Many consumers in Europe simply do not know what they are buying. What is labelled as fake fur has in some cases been cat and dog fur. Cat and dog fur products have also turned up in toys, ornaments, homoeopathic medicines and of course clothing and accessories."

"Several European countries already have bans, but when the United States adopted a ban more cat and dog fur then appeared in Europe which means consumers in South East may have unwittingly bought products with cat and dog fur."

"Over the years millions of campaigners have written letters, signed petitions and lobbied parliamentarians. The campaign for this ban has been long fought but today's result has made it all worth the while."

Ends.

Notes to editors:

Attached is a photo of Sharon Bowles and Saffy the dog.

Previously more than half the Parliament's members signed a Written Declaration, effectively a petition forcing a debate. The Declaration cites 'strong evidence that over two million cats and dogs are killed each year solely for their skins'.

Recent investigations have shown that animals sold for this purpose in southern China are bred and transported in appalling conditions causing illness, insanity and death. Even if they survive transportation they are then beaten to death, drowned or skinned alive for their fur.