An opinion poll of people in the Republic of Ireland, conducted in October 2018 by Red C on behalf of Respect for Animals, has found that 80% of respondents agreed that the farming and killing of animals for their fur in Ireland should be banned.
The weight of public support for a ban on fur farming is clear. Respect for Animals, and the ISPCA, both of which are members of Fur Free Alliance, are highlighting the necessity for a ban on fur farming in Ireland on animal welfare, environmental and moral grounds, and are backing a Bill recently introduced in the Dáil by Solidarity TD, Deputy Ruth Coppinger.
Mark Glover, Respect for Animals Campaigns Director, said: “In 2015, Respect for Animals published a comprehensive scientific review of animal welfare standards for mink on fur farms. This report found that the welfare of mink farmed for their fur is seriously compromised by ALL existing fur farming practices. It further concluded that farming systems for mink fail to satisfy any of the ‘Five Freedoms’ and do not provide a ‘Life worth Living’ as defined by the Farm Animal Welfare Council.
A ban is the only viable solution to the serious welfare concerns caused by the fur factory farming of mink. Governments around Europe are legislating to end this cruel practice, which contravenes the European Directive concerning the animals kept for farming purposes and the Council of Europe recommendation concerning fur animals. Fur farming is a disaster for animal welfare and it is clear from the opinion poll results released today that such a ban has huge support from the Irish public.”
In Ireland, there are three fur farms located in Donegal, Kerry and Laois containing up to 200,000 mink, farmed in tiny wire mesh battery cages (typically measuring 90x30x45cm) only to suffer a cruel and inhumane death by gassing. Mink are semi-aquatic and highly evolved physiologically to hold their breath so they are prone to hypoxia, which means they will potentially suffer during gassing.
The ethical concerns of a large majority of the European citizens and the inherent cruelty of fur farming have led an increasing number of European countries to ban fur farming in recent years. Since 2000 the farming of animals for fur has been banned in Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, The Netherlands, Republic of Macedonia, Slovenia, UK and Northern Ireland and in the Belgian region of Wallonia and Brussels.
Opinion polls in Europe
Causing suffering and killing animals for a non-essential and even trivial reason as fashion contravenes public morality. Opinion polls from a number of European countries have consistently demonstrated that the majority of citizens consider breeding animals for fur unacceptable.
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