Harrods is now the only department store in the UK which continues to sell real fur, even though the production of fur is illegal in the UK. The last survey at Harrods revealed a wide range of real fur garments on sale on display throughout the store, and included items made from beaver, chinchilla, red fox, arctic fox, mink, musquash, rabbit, wolf, coyote and squirrel. Eighty-five percent of the fur industry's skins come from animals on fur factory farms.  These are dismal, often filthy places where thousands of animals are usually kept in wire cages for their entire lives.  The methods used on fur factory farms are designed to maximize profits, always at the expense of the animals.  Many animals go insane under these conditions. The anguish and frustration of life in a cage leads many animals to self-mutilate, biting at their skin, tail, and feet; frantically pace and circle endlessly; and even cannibalize their cagemates. Because fur farmers care only about preserving the quality of the fur, they use slaughter methods that keep the pelts intact but that can result in extreme suffering for the animals. Some animals even wake up while they are being skinned. Animals have clamps attached to or rods forced into their mouths and anuses, and they are painfully electrocuted. Genital electrocution deemed "unacceptable" by the American Veterinary Medical Association in its "2000 Report of the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia" causes animals to suffer from cardiac arrest while they are still conscious.

Other animals are poisoned with strychnine, which suffocates them by paralyzing their muscles with painful, rigid cramps. Neck-breaking is another common slaughter method on fur factory farms. The fur industry refuses to condemn even blatantly cruel killing methods. As a consumer, you can help put an end to this cruel practice by refusing to buy any products made with fur, including fur trim. You can also make your voice heard by signing this petition and writing to Harrods to ask them to stop selling fur.

Harrods is now the only UK department store to sell fur, every one of the hundreds of other department stores in the UK has a fur free policy, including all of Harrods' rivals such as Harvey Nichols and Selfridges. The production of fur is illegal in the UK on ethical grounds. The farming of animals for fur was outlawed in 2001, and the leghold trap has been illegal for over 50 years. Over 80% of the UK population is opposed to the fur trade, and a ban on the sale of fur in Harrods would be very popular.  Eighty-five percent of the fur industry's skins come from animals on furfactory farms - dismal, often filthy places where thousands of animals are usually kept in wire cages for their entire lives. The methods used on fur factory farms are designed to maximize profits, always at the expense of the animals.

To cut costs, fur farmers pack animals into unbearably small cages, preventing them from taking more than a few steps in any direction or doing anything that is natural and important to them, such as running, swimming, making nests, and finding mates. Many animals go insane under these conditions. The anguish and frustration of life in a cage leads many animals to self-mutilate, biting at their skin, tail, and feet; frantically pace and circle endlessly; and even cannibalize their cagemates.  Rows of cages are often housed in giant, dark, filthy sheds or barns where the ammonia from the animals' accumulated urine and feces burns their eyes and lungs, or they may simply be lined up outdoors, where animals have no protection from bone-chilling cold, driving rain, or sweltering heat. Parasites and disease run rampant on fur farms, making these animals' already miserable lives even more unbearable.  Because fur farmers care only about preserving the quality of the fur, they use slaughter methods that keep the pelts intact but that can result in extreme suffering for the animals. Some animals even wake up while they are being skinned. Animals have clamps attached to or rods forced into their mouths and anuses, and they are painfully electrocuted. Genital electrocution - deemed "unacceptable" by the American Veterinary Medical Association in its "2000 Report of the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia" - causes animals to suffer from cardiac arrest while they are still conscious. Other animals are poisoned with strychnine, which suffocates them by paralyzing their muscles with painful, rigid cramps. Neck-breaking is another common slaughter method on fur factory farms. The fur industry refuses to condemn even blatantly cruel killing methods.  Surely you don't want your prestigous store associated with such a disgusting industry?  Please take the the ethical decision to stop selling fur in your store.