2-02-04

Fur trade petition presented to Downing Street

Over 23,000 people from across Scotland have called for an end to the trade in dog and cat fur by signing a petition, launched by John Barrett, MP for Edinburgh West constituency.

The petition was presented to 10 Downing Street on the 28th January.

John Barrett said: "When I began this campaign last Autumn, I could never have imagined the response it would receive. To gather over 23,000 signatures, from all parts of Scotland, just goes to show the strength of feeling on this issue. Better still, the motion in the European Parliament as well as the UK Trade Minister's apparent willingness to be convinced, shows that a complete ban on the trade of dog and cat fur now looks within our grasp."

Imports of dog and cat fur were banned by the United States over three years ago and resulted in an increase of dog and cat fur products imported into Europe. Denmark, Italy, France, Belgium and Greece have national bans to date - with The Netherlands recently passing a resolution calling for a ban and Sweden debating the subject.

Mairi Ball, Press Officer for the Scottish SPCA, said: "Members of the Scottish SPCA have really taken this campaign on board and taken action, not only by signing the petition themselves but also by promoting it among friends and colleagues. We're delighted with the response.

"The fur trade involves terrible cruelty - both in the way the animals are
reared and in the inhumane way that they are killed.

"The tremendous response to this petition highlights how strongly people
feel about this barbaric trade. The Scottish SPCA hopes that a Europe-wide
ban on the imports of dog and cat fur will now be forthcoming."

ENDS