Target:Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz Sponsored by:Care2
In an internal memo issued this week, government officials in Canada urged Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz not to ban cat and dog fur imports, arguing that such a ban would weaken Canada's position against the banning of seal products by other countries.
This sentiment goes against the vast majority of Canadians who decry the annual seal hunt and the government's effort to protect the seal fur trade. A recent poll showed that 86 percent of Canadians supported the right of the EU to ban its trade in seal products, while 79 percent opposed the use of government money to defend the commercial seal hunt.*
What's more, a large number of the estimated 2 million dog and cat skins originate in China, where regulations are virtually nonexistent and animal suffering is beyond extreme. And because Canada has no labeling requirements for fur garments, it is nearly impossible for consumers to avoid the cruelty-ridden skins.
The United States and the European Union already prohibit the import of dog and cat fur. Now it's time for Canada to follow suit! Tell Prime Minister Harper and Agriculture Minister Ritz that you do not support the import of cat and dog fur - or the commercial seal slaughter.
We took action on “Ban Canadian Imports of Dog and Cat Fur”:
# 18,795:
7:54 pm PST, Nov 20,Elizabeth Koeppe, Ohio
I am horrified that this is going on. Please don't allow the import of dog and cat fur any longer and please also put a stop to the seal hunts. These beautiful animals don't deserve such cruelty. Thank you!
# 18,794:
7:47 pm PST, Nov 20,Holly Guistini, Canada
# 18,793:
7:38 pm PST, Nov 20,M. Booth, Canada
# 18,792:
7:18 pm PST, Nov 20,Pat Arbuthnot, Missouri
# 18,791:
7:05 pm PST, Nov 20,Courtney Peacock, Canada
# 18,790:
7:01 pm PST, Nov 20,Jenna Braben, Canada
# 18,789:
6:59 pm PST, Nov 20,William Sommer, Canada
# 18,788:
6:34 pm PST, Nov 20,Suzanne Solsona, California
As a Canadian, I am appalled that the Canadian would implicitly support the murder of cats and dogs for the sale of fur. If clubbing baby seals is abhorrent, well so is this. Stop it. Now! I dare you tos, if you have the courage.
# 18,787:
5:31 pm PST, Nov 20,Oleg Zozylya, Ukraine
# 18,786:
5:21 pm PST, Nov 20,Gabriela Zambrana, Bolivia
# 18,785:
5:19 pm PST, Nov 20,Hugh Lydick, California
# 18,784:
5:16 pm PST, Nov 20,Name not displayed, Canada
# 18,783:
4:54 pm PST, Nov 20,Katelyn Hagey, Canada
# 18,782:
4:15 pm PST, Nov 20,Clarice Grimmett, Michigan
Shame on you, Canada!
# 18,781:
4:07 pm PST, Nov 20,Stephanie Oneschuk, Canada
# 18,780:
3:49 pm PST, Nov 20,Name not displayed, Sweden
# 18,779:
3:40 pm PST, Nov 20,Name not displayed, Washington
# 18,778:
2:54 pm PST, Nov 20,Rebecca Anderson, California
# 18,777:
2:38 pm PST, Nov 20,Blackcat Penny, United Kingdom
# 18,776:
2:34 pm PST, Nov 20,Name not displayed, Ohio
# 18,775:
2:32 pm PST, Nov 20,Susan Brown, Tennessee
# 18,774:
2:29 pm PST, Nov 20,Name not displayed, Canada
I live not too far from Chinatown in Vancouver and am disgusted with what they get away with selling in their stores i.e. ornaments, scarves and fur on coats all made from cat/dog hair. How can this be happening in Canada?
# 18,773:
2:23 pm PST, Nov 20,Agata Jagielska, Canada
# 18,772:
2:22 pm PST, Nov 20,Name not displayed, New Zealand
# 18,771:
2:07 pm PST, Nov 20,Lesslie Askin, Canada
# 18,770:
1:55 pm PST, Nov 20,Jody Walder, Canada
This is disgusting and I am ashamed that our otherwise wonderful country would permit this cruelty to innocent animals...Shame on all the politicians that neglect taking action action this cause..I will be considering this when I vote
# 18,769:
1:38 pm PST, Nov 20,Cameron Gore, Canada
# 18,768:
1:35 pm PST, Nov 20,Joan E Loza Mobry, Wisconsin
"Animals Do Not Have A Voice Of Their Own. If We Do Not Stand Up And Speak For Them... Who Will?!"
# 18,767:
12:35 pm PST, Nov 20,Jeannette Robinson, Texas
Are you kidding me? I can not believe this is happening. How can a civilized-what I thought was a civilized country-allow this to even exist? I am in shock. I always want to visit Canada, but now I'm not too sure. I wouldn't want any of my money I spend there to be used for this or support this in any way. Horrible!!!
# 18,766:
12:23 pm PST, Nov 20,Alicia Aceves Estrada, Mexico
# 18,765:
12:23 pm PST, Nov 20,Kimberly Peterson, California
# 18,764:
12:14 pm PST, Nov 20,Donna Sharpe, Canada
This is unacceptable.
# 18,763:
12:05 pm PST, Nov 20,Susana Lax, Florida
Dear Prime Minister Harper and Minister Ritz, I was shocked to learn about an internal memo supporting the continued import of dog and cat fur.
# 18,762:
11:18 am PST, Nov 20,Susan Brittain, Nebraska
# 18,761:
11:16 am PST, Nov 20,Jassmine Flowers, North Carolina
# 18,760:
10:48 am PST, Nov 20,Stephanie Schneider, Michigan
# 18,759:
10:44 am PST, Nov 20,Angela Volk, Canada
Dear Prime Minister Harper and Minister Ritz,
I was shocked to learn about an internal memo supporting the continued import of dog and cat fur. This sentiment does not speak for me, nor does it express the wishes of the majority of Canadian citizens.
Under the World Trade Organization Agreements, nations can justify trade prohibitions in certain circumstances, including where necessary to protect public morals or to protect human health or animal welfare. Given these requirements, Canada is entirely within its rights to ban trade in cat and dog fur products.
Consider the following:
- The Canadian government claims it spent between $1.8 and $3.6 million in 2009 just to attempt to enforce the few regulations that govern the seal hunt. Yet Canada's commercial seal hunt brought in less than $1.5 million that same season.
- The proposed WTO challenge in regards to the EU seal product trade ban would cost an estimated $10 million and many say stands little chance of success.
I want the Canadian seal hunt to end and the trade in cat and dog fur to stop. Please choose the ethical and moral path by banning the import of this mercilessly cruel product.
# 18,758:
10:31 am PST, Nov 20,Mark Starmer, Canada
# 18,757:
10:28 am PST, Nov 20,Sue Drouillard, Canada
# 18,756:
10:26 am PST, Nov 20,Carmen Rosas, Mexico
# 18,755:
10:06 am PST, Nov 20,Darci Galati, Canada
This is horrific. If people knew that their clothing was made from cat and dog fur they wouldn't buy it. If we stop this they will stop breeding dogs and cats for this trade and the suffering of millions of animals will stop.
# 18,754:
10:05 am PST, Nov 20,Katrina Trainor, Illinois
# 18,753:
10:01 am PST, Nov 20,PINHEIRO Sandrine, France
# 18,752:
9:58 am PST, Nov 20,Lori Dickey, Tennessee
# 18,751:
9:40 am PST, Nov 20,Laura Cull, Canada
I am horrified by the practise of trading in the fur of cats and dogs. Canada must not support it. We must ban the import of these 'products'.
