POLAND, 21 NOVEMBER – On Saturday, November 21st, Fur Free Alliance member Otwarte Katki organised Fur Free Day actions in 11 Polish cities. Signatures were collected during the actions in support of a draft law that bans the breeding of foxes and racoon dogs for fur in Poland. In 3 cities skinned foxes – the victims of the industry – were displayed.

The Fur-Free Day events took place in Katowice, Kraków, Wrocław, Warsaw, Poznań, Łódź, Częstochowa, Opole, Lublin, Gdańsk and Bydgoszcz. People could not only sign the petition, but also see the photographs depicting the living conditions of animals on Polish fur farms – the conditions that by no means can be called humane. The animals are killed in gas chambers or by anal electrocution, however many of them die prior to the slaughter due to serieus health issues caused by the poor conditions on farms. Crammed in small cages, they fight and kill each other or die due to various diseases. Paweł Rawicki, the vice chairman of Otwarte Klatki:

‘Our activists have documented what is happening in the Polish fur farms. We recorded shocking scenes of defenseless animals suffering. It’s hard to look at these, but we cannot turn our eyes away. We owe it to the animals that are being tormented by the hands of humans. Many people decided to sign the petition just after seeing such scenes and realising how much suffering is associated with fur farming.’

The petition proved very popular with passers-by. In Poland each year an increasing number of animals are killed for their fur, however the opposition of the industry is growing as well. According to a survey commissioned by Otwarte Klatki and carried out by the Homo Homini opinion polling institute, 66% of the Polish people are opposed to breeding foxes for fur. As many as 70% believe animal protection should be dealt with by the politicians. Detailed information on the fur industry in Poland can be found in the reports published by Otwarte Klatki – as Fur Price and A Predatory Business.