Get Active! - Help Us To Make Auckland Fur Free in 2008!!

Fur Free Auckland has been one of our longest running and most successful campaigns. We have had success with over 60 stores pledging to go fur free. After finding stores stocking fur, we send information packs educating them on the atrocities of the fur industry. The animals are bred purely to be skinned and made into clothing. They are kept in tiny barren cages and are driven insane as they are unable to display any of their natural behaviours or socialise with others. They are then killed by means of electrocution, gassing orhaving their necks broken. In some cases they are even skinned alive.

Auckland Animal Action urges stores to take a compassionate stand and send these inhumane products back to their stockists. If the stores refuse, then the protests begin. We leaflet passers by, hold placards showing the conditions these animals are forced to endure and chant until a store removes their fur. Winter 2007 was no exception to the success of our campaign with 6 different stores opting to go fur free, as well as one of the largest malls in NZ withdrawing an advertising campaign which included a full fur coat.

The campaign began in February in Takapuna. A store called Tammy Girl were stocking several items which had rabbit and fox fur trim. After discussing this with the store owner several times and explaining to him the difference between fake fur and the genuine article, the store owner refused to take the items out and the demos began! After only one protest the owner had a change of heart and decided to remove the items, thus being the first success of our 2007 season.

The next target for the season was $2 Plus Joy Mart. The Newmarket store were stocking rabbit and fox fur key rings and toys. The owners chose to ignore the information provided to them about the industry so two demos were held on Saturday’s to let people know that the store was selling products with such
cruelty involved. During the second demo the owners permitted one member of AAA to enter the store and discuss the issue with them, they removed the items shortly after and have remained fur free for the rest of the season.

In order to advertise the new winter fashions being stocked, Sylvia Park erected several billboards featuring a model wearing a knee length rabbit fur coat. AAA wrote to each of the directors of the company that owns Sylvia Park advising them of the conditions in which rabbits destined for the fur trade are kept. The company promptly responded with the following:

...We are in receipt of you letter with regards to the fashion image portrayed on Sylvia Park’s billboards. Firstly I would like to sincerely apologize for unwittingly offending your organization with the image and secondly we will take immediate action to rectify this by removing the image.

We had been assured that it was fake and our intention was not to be seen as supporting cruelty to animals but to advertise winter as a season to wrap up warmly. Our program to change out this image was scheduled to take place on 14 May but will endeavour to work with our suppliers to have this changed out by the end of next week.

Once again, we apologise for the offence we have caused and will rectify this as quickly as possible... AAA duly applauds Sylvia Park for taking a compassionate stand on this issue!

The rest of the winter season meant further success with four more stores opting to go fur free. Issue in Newmarket closed the store for the day after only one demo in June. They were then in contact with us to confirm they were removing the items. She Boutique, who are also in Newmarket, would not let us discuss the issue with them so three protests were held outside the store. Workers and store owners from surrounding stores were confrontational and violent with all activists at the second protest. Activists had water thrown at them and were punched and kicked. After continuing to hold our ground after being harassed for taking a stand for the animals, we held yet another demo which ended in She Boutique choosing to remove the items.

The final successes for the season were with Obzee on Wellesley Street and Brave in Newmarket, and on High Street. The owner of Obzee removed the fox and rabbit fur items after only one demo. And Brave followed shortly after, deciding to remove the rabbit fur trimmed items after four demos and much public attention.

Unfortunately for so many animals, fur continues to be in the fashion pages which means that Auckland stores will continue to stock the fur of tortured animals. It’s up to all of us to take a stand against this disgusting trade where profit is put before the lives of others.

JOIN AUCKLAND ANIMAL ACTION FOR FUR FREE 2008!

Our first demo will be held on Saturday 29th of March; stay tuned for further details or email us on aucklandanimalaction@yahoo.com for more information.