Denver, Let’s Leave Fur Behind.
Fur clothing is a cruel and unnecessary industry that has fallen out of public favor. Yet millions of animals are still raised in inhumane conditions on fur farms and killed for the sake of luxury fur sales.
In 2024 you can vote to change that.
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The World is Evolving Beyond Fur
As ethical concerns grow, many countries are enacting legislation to end the production of fur.
25+ countries have passed anti-fur laws.
19 countries including Italy, Ireland, and the UK have banned fur farming altogether, while others have banned fur sales or passed laws regulating their fur trade.
1581 fashion retailers have gone fur free.
With the majority of consumers rejecting the use of fur and new faux fur innovation, major fashion retailers like Chanel, Canada Goose, and Saks Fifth Avenue have chosen to stop selling fur.
Over 100 countries have banned leghold traps.
These traps are designed to crush animals in an iron grip rather than kill them, often leaving them to die slowly in an extreme state of stress. These remain the go-to tool for fur trappers in the United States.
71% of Americans were opposed to killing animals for fur in a 2020 survey.
The fur-free movement is growing in the U.S.
Here in the states, 16 cities have successfully banned fur sales. These laws were mainly passed through grassroots campaigns, which are helping to build momentum for broader scale change.
Fur sales were first banned in West Hollywood in 2011, followed by Berkeley, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. California successfully passed the first statewide fur ban in 2019, demonstrating the compounding power of local initiatives.
Boulder was the first city in Colorado to ban fur sales in 2021, and fur ordinances have also been passed in cities in Massachusetts, Michigan, Florida, and Pennsylvania.
Let’s make Denver next.
Why vote YES on 308 to ban fur sales in Denver?
According to Animal Ethics and the Humane Society, it takes at least 15 foxes, 50 minks, or 150 chinchillas to make a single fur coat. In today’s world of abundant sustainable fur alternatives, our vote can compel the fashion industry to end this unnecessary cruelty.
“The ASPCA is opposed to the farming, ranching, trapping, shooting or otherwise killing of fur-bearing animals for clothing and accessories.” – ASPCA
Every year millions of animals are killed for their fur, including dogs and cats.
Animals like foxes, mink and rabbits endure horrific factory farm conditions for the entirety of their lives – all for the sake of fur sales. More than half of the fur sold in the US comes from China, where millions of dogs and cats are slaughtered for their fur each year. These furs are often deliberately mislabeled and sold to retailers.
With fur trapping, wild animals often face prolonged deaths while trying to free themselves from leghold traps before succumbing to exposure, predators, or their injuries. If they survive long enough to be found by trappers, they are drowned or bludgeoned. Fur traps don’t discriminate, sometimes catching non-target wildlife or even dogs and cats.
“Watching the footage reduced me to tears. I couldn’t speak afterwards. I genuinely do not understand what it takes in a human being to do those things in the name of fur. “
– Mike Mosner, Former Fur Trade Association CEO turned whistleblower, describing footage of fur farming
Almost all furs come from animals who spend their lives in cramped wire cages on factory farms.
An estimated 95% of fur sold globally comes from industrial fur farming operations, where animals live in filthy, crowded cages with less than a square meter of space to move around. The species of animals exploited by the fur industry, who typically occupy thousands of acres of land in the wild, have been observed pacing and circling endlessly on fur farms.
An investigation of a “certified humane” fur farm found animals with dead cagemates rotting on the sides of cage walls, and evidence that animals had harmed themselves and each other due to their torment from being confined.. These animals are then killed brutally through methods like anal electrocution or having their necks broken, and those who don’t die from these methods must endure being skinned alive.
“Foxes showed signs of self-mutilation, a common symptom of
– Dr. Marc Abraham, Veterinarian, Fur Farm Investigator
psychological trauma that occurs when wild animals are denied
appropriate enrichment or the freedom to move, run and exercise in
their natural environments.”
Millions of wild animals, including bobcats, coyotes, raccoons, and wolves, suffer and die in traps each year.
While more than 100 countries have banned inhumane leghold traps, they are still widely used in the U.S. Animals who fall victim to these traps are left exposed to the elements and predators, and they try desperately to escape.
As trapping regulations are limited and extremely difficult to enforce, trap checking times often range from once a day to once every 14 days, meaning that some animals are left to suffer for weeks. These animals may die slowly of blood loss, dehydration, or freezing before the trapper even returns. If they are still alive when they are found, they are then typically bludgeoned, choked, or stomped to death.
“As the animal struggles in excruciating pain to get free, the steel vise cuts into his or her flesh—often down to the bone—mutilating the leg or paw. Some animals, especially mothers desperate to return to their young, will even attempt to chew or twist off their trapped limbs. This struggle may last for hours. Eventually, the animal succumbs to exhaustion and often exposure, frostbite, shock, and death.”
– Dr. Teri Schweiss, Veterinarian
Scientists warn that fur farming could cause the next global pandemic.
Scientists warn that fur farming poses a significant threat to global health due to the high risk of zoonotic diseases, where pathogens jump from animals to humans. The crowded, unhygienic conditions of fur farms create a breeding ground for viruses, including potentially deadly strains like avian influenza and coronaviruses, creating potential pandemic risks.
Since April 2020, COVID-19 outbreaks have swept through over 450 mink farms in Europe and North America, including farms in Utah, Oregon, Michigan, and Wisconsin. As COVID-19 is able to spread from mink to humans, over 20 million mink were killed in an attempt to stop the rapid virus spread. Recent studies show that these types of intensive farming environments can accelerate the mutation and transmission of viruses, making them more likely to cause outbreaks that can spread to humans and decimate local wildlife populations. Without immediate action to ban fur farming, we could face devastating consequences for both human and animal populations.
“Fur farming takes place in a high-density animal environment that allows for rapid spread of viruses with pandemic potential—and for virus adaptation to animals that would be unlikely to occur in nature.”
– Dr. Thomas Peacock and Professor Wendy Barclay, Imperial College London
The climate impact of mink fur is 5X higher than any alternatives.
Most people aren’t aware of the alarmingly high environmental footprint of fur production. Mink fur produces nearly 400 times more water pollution than polyester. The same report found mink fur to produce 271 times more air emissions than acrylic, and the three animal furs included scored the worst for water consumption out of all the materials studied. Fur production is extremely resource-intensive, requiring a great deal of land, water, feed, and energy to keep thousands of animals captive.
The waste generated from these farms release harmful gasses like nitrous oxide and ammonia, which contribute to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. With the emergence of so many innovative fashion alternatives, it has become increasingly difficult to justify such an unsustainable practice.
“The production of fur imposes significant adverse impacts on both
– W. Ian Lipkin, Epidemiologist
the environment and human health. Far from being a natural resource,
fur production is an intensely toxic and energy-consumptive process.”
Furs are often dipped in highly toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde.
In order to tan, dye, and treat furs, they are dipped in chemicals known to be highly toxic. Formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, is used alongside other toxic substances like chromium and ammonia, causing risk to workers, surrounding communities, and the wearer. Along with the animal waste from these farms which often carry disease, fur production facilities are frequently found to release toxic waste into the environment, polluting soils and waterways and endangering local communities and ecosystems.
Exposure to these chemicals poses significant harm to workers, including respiratory problems and increased cancer risk. These toxins can also pose long-term health risks to the wearer, as they can be absorbed through the skin or inhaled as dust particles. Independent laboratories in four countries found harmful levels of toxins that can cause allergies, hormonal imbalances, and cancer in fur trims on children’s fashion wear – including brands like Canada Goose and Dolce & Gabbana.
“The alarming levels of toxics found in the fur trims of infant jackets
– Dr. Jacob de Boer, Professor of Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology at Vrije Universiteit of Amsterdam
justify stringent measures to seriously limit or prohibit the use of
these chemicals in the preparation of fur products during production
processes.”
What is a fur farm?
A fur farm is a commercial operation where animals are bred and raised for the purposes of killing them for their fur, which is used in the fashion industry to make clothing and accessories. Despite being wild species, animals on fur farms are subjected to a life of captivity in cramped and distressing conditions until they are killed for their pelts.
This November 2024, Denver residents will vote on Initiated Ordinance 308 to ban fur sales.
Will you help pave the way towards a better future for animals?
What would Denver Measure 308 impact?
The measure would prohibit:
- The sale of any new products made wholly or partly from fur in Denver.
- The manufacture for sale of any new fur product in Denver.
- The display of new fur products in Denver stores.
- The distribution or trade of any new fur product in Denver.
- The raising or slaughtering of animals for their fur.
The measure would allow exceptions for:
- Restrictions on the sale of used fur products.
- The recycling of pre-owned fur products.
- The sale of leather, cowhide, sheepskin, shearling, wool or other fibers sheared from animals.
- Fur products purchased for traditional tribal, cultural, or spiritual purposes by a member of a recognized Native American tribe.
- The creation, display, or sale of taxidermy.
Is fur really still an issue?
While many people rightly assume that fur is on its way out, the Fur Commission estimates there are still about 245 fur farms in 22 U.S. states producing about 2.5 million pelts each year. Animals sold for their fur in Denver include mink, rabbits, bobcats, and foxes.
While many brands are distancing themselves from fur sales, as of 2024 there are at least 6 stores in Denver that sell a significant amount of fur clothing and accessories including: Overland Sheepskin, A Tsagas Furs and Leathers, Jonval Leathers and Furs, Louis Vuitton, Neimen Marcus, and Dan Sharp Luxury Outerwear. Luxury retailers in Denver are offering fur coats and accessories with price tags ranging from $1,000 to a staggering $30,000, clearly targeting an exclusive market of affluent consumers.
Prohibiting the sale of new fur products in Denver will have a direct economic impact on the fur industry, and send a clear signal to retailers that it is time to transition away from using animals for fur. Denver Initiative 308 would also be setting a precedent, making the passing of a statewide fur ban in Colorado more feasible in the future.
“Nearly 100 million foxes, raccoon dogs, rabbits and other fur bearing animals are killed each year in the name of ‘fashion.
Denver Fur Ban (Initiated Ordinance 308) FAQs
With so many fashion alternatives on the market today, fur is increasingly seen as a luxury item that causes unintended consequences and unnecessary suffering. In a bid to ban fur sales in the UK, a group of top designers said:
“[We have a] shared belief that fashion, driven by consumers and enabled by innovation, is evolving to make animal fur obsolete, as more and more luxury fashion designers and high street retailers eliminate it from their collections.”
The Denver fur ban (Initiated Ordinance 308) would not apply to wool, leather, sheepskin, shearling, goat fur, cowhide, taxidermy, or any fur product from an animal defined as “livestock” under the Colorado Revised Statutes. This policy is designed to target products from animals killed primarily for their fur, including foxes, raccoons, rabbits, chinchillas, minks, and others. Measure 308 would apply to any products made from new fur, including clothes, accessories, and furniture.
Initiative 308 would not impact the wearing of fur, or the purchase of second hand fur products. Selling pre-owned fur, buying thrifted fur, or recycling old fur products to make a new product would still be allowed under the new law. See the full fur ban legislation text here.
Echoing fur-free laws that have passed in other cities, Denver Measure 308 focuses on leaving fur behind as an achievable step towards protecting animals from being killed or abused for clothing.
Despite environmental concerns around faux furs made from plastics, real fur ranks as having a much worse overall impact. A life cycle analysis compared mink fur production with cotton, acrylic, and polyester. It found that the other textiles scored better in 17 out of 18 environmental measures, with mink fur having an environmental impact 5x greater than the next highest scoring textile. Fur farms are extremely resource inefficient and have a shockingly high carbon footprint, mainly due to the amount of feed and water required to sustain the animals and the harmful pollutants released into our atmosphere.
With so many natural, plant-based fibers available, many people agree that fur of any kind feels unnecessary. But for those craving the fashion aesthetic of fur, some designers are using faux fur made from all-natural materials like cotton, straw, and hemp, bio-based polymer fibers, or upcycled materials like recycled fabrics, denim, and plastic bottles. Sustainable faux furs like the ones highlighted in Eluxe Magazine are the most eco-friendly options for those seeking the “fur” look and feel. While these products are relatively upscale, clothes made from animal fur are an expensive luxury item to begin with.
There are at least six local businesses that sell a significant amount of fur products here in Denver: Overland Sheepskin, A Tsagas Furs and Leathers, Jonval Leathers and Furs, Louis Vuitton, Neimen Marcus, and Dan Sharp Luxury Outerwear.
We encourage these businesses to go fur-free and transition instead to selling any of the numerous alternative products that can meet demand for winter clothing. If Denver Initiated Ordinance 308 is signed into law after the 2024 election, Denver’s fur stores would have until July 2025 to phase out fur from their stores.
With so many cruelty-free alternatives, these stores would have no shortage of options with which to replace their fur products, and plenty of time to smoothly make this transition.
This policy exempts fur products purchased for traditional tribal, cultural, or spiritual purposes by a member of a federally recognized or state-recognized Native American tribe. Tribal members can continue to sell and trade fur products, including the selling of wares at the annual Denver Powwow. Proposed Ordinance 308 borrowed the native exception language from the state of California’s fur ban, signed into law by California’s governor as Assembly Bill 44.
We hope this exemption avoids any unfair restrictions or oppression against Indigenous Americans and their cultural and spiritual practices. Native Americans, like the broader population, hold diverse opinions about the use of animals for clothing and food. There are many who want to move away from harming animals while simultaneously protecting tribal sovereignty and culture, such as the authors recently featured in Sentient Media’s Indigenous Voices for Saving Animals and Earth. We welcome further information on this topic, particularly if you are Indigenous and have thoughts on the fur or slaughterhouse ban. Feel free to contact us.
A report by ProVeg makes the case that intensive animal farming is the “single most risky human behaviour” for pandemics. That’s because 75% of emerging human diseases come from our handling of animals, both wild and domesticated. Musonda Mumba of the UN Environment Programme endorsed the report, saying it “clearly demonstrates the connection between industrial animal production and the increased risk of pandemics. Never before have so many opportunities existed for pathogens to jump from wild and domestic animals to people.”
In 2020 the CDC reported that COVID-19 had infected 11 U.S. mink farms. The issue was even more serious in northern Europe, where Denmark culled all minks living on fur farms, killing a staggering 17 million animals. COVID broke out on Dutch mink farms as well and prompted the Netherlands—whose citizens had already voted to ban mink farming by 2024— to close the industry early in 2021 instead.
If you feel disgust about the idea of farming animals only to mass-kill them when disease spreads, listen to that feeling. We should be offended by the amount of suffering involved. Let’s seek to leave fur and slaughterhouses behind and vote YES on Denver Initiated Ordinance 308 and 309 both for our human health and security, and for the animals’.
It is well-documented that keeping wide-ranging animals in small cages causes severe distress, with numerous fur farm investigations demonstrating the extreme toll on the animals held captive. Humane Society International’s most recent investigation of five fur farms in China, the source of the majority of the world’s fur, found “…foxes, raccoon dogs and mink pacing their cages frantically, a repetitive behavior associated with mental decline, and filthy, feces-encrusted cages packed so close together that the risk of zoonotic disease spread was nearly palpable.” Norway, once the world’s largest producer of fox fur, decided to end fur farming in 2018 following shocking evidence of welfare violations on fox and mink fur farms.
The US federal government does not regulate the treatment of animals on fur farms, and even the Humane Slaughter Act excludes animals raised for fur, who are typically killed through painful methods like electrocution, gassing, or suffocation. Industry guidelines around animal welfare are voluntary and not legally enforced. To better understand the horrific treatment of animals that is standard for fur farms, we can look at examples of the enforcement of welfare regulations in other countries. In 2017, a German law required that minks get bigger cages with swimming basins to satisfy their semi-aquatic nature. By 2019, all German mink farms closed.
Regulations requiring larger cage sizes, enrichment, and proper care in Sweden and Switzerland also resulted in the collapse of their fur industries. In these cases, even the most basic of regulations, such as bigger cages, resulted in the industries being deemed “unprofitable”. By design, fur industry profits rely on the raising, keeping and slaughtering of animals in the most inexpensive ways possible – resulting in the mass suffering of the animals living on fur farms.
Pro-Animal Future (PAF) is made up of dozens of dedicated campaigners who volunteer their time to making the world a better place for animals. Check out our About Us page to get to know the dedicated volunteers who make this organization possible!
Pro-Animal Future is a 501(c)(4) political organization that was incubated by Pax Fauna, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on research. Pax Fauna is known for its studies on public attitudes regarding the use of animals for food, and narratives that can increase support for pro-animal initiatives. These findings play a central role in PAF’s strategy. Currently, five full-time Pax Fauna employees support the Yes on 308 campaign to ban fur sales in Denver.
Seeded with funding from the Phauna Foundation as well as numerous small donations, Pro-Animal Future has built a movement powered by small donors and incredibly dedicated volunteers. We warmly invite you to join us as a donor, petitioner, canvasser, or engaged citizen to advance animal freedom, one ballot measure at a time.
Want to do more to help?
Make fur history by helping pass Ordinance 308. We’re currently seeking volunteer activists in the Denver area. Contact us directly to inquire about remote opportunities.
VolunteerYou can help Initiative 308 pass in Denver. Your gift will help fund the movement to free animals from the fur industry forever.
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