Actress urges rejection of fur trade
Linda Bhreathnach, who stars in the TG4 drama, Ros na Rún, yesterday spoke of her horror after seeing video footage of fox and mink farms in the Republic.
"It was hard to believe in this day and age animals could be imprisoned simply to produce an unnecessary fashion product," she said.
Ms Bhreathnach was speaking in Dublin to support a campaign by Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) to ban fur farming.
She urged celebrities and people in the public eye not to wear fur as this can lead to fashion trends being set.
The fur industry is one that should be shunned," she said. Ms Bhreathnach called on the Government to ban the farming of mink and fox in Ireland.
CIWF director in Ireland Mary-Anne Bartlett said it is inhumane to keep wild animals confined in small cages. She said there are six mink farms and at least two fox farms in the Republic a total of about 140,000 mink and at least 1,700 Arctic and Silver Fox.
ISPCA Honorary Secretary Angela McCarthy said a new campaign poster will target 340,000 secondary students and 124,000 students in third level colleges.
However, Agriculture and Food Minister Joe Walsh has told the Dáil fur farming is a legitimate activity here. Inspections found the licensed fur farms operating in compliance with legislation. Our department will continue to monitor the licensed fur farms," he said.
