Washington, D.C. — Today, Born Free USA, a global leader in animal welfare and wildlife conservation, announced the return of its successful 2014 “Fur for the Animals” campaign: a donation drive to collect hats, coats, and other items made from animal fur. Donations will once again be sent to wildlife rehabilitation centers around the country and used to comfort orphaned and injured wildlife. This year’s drive will run from September 8 to December 31.[teaserbreak]
According to Adam M. Roberts, CEO of Born Free USA and the Born Free Foundation, “Animal trapping and fur farming are not only barbaric to animals, but also serious public safety and environmental issues. One of our goals is to reduce the supply, demand, and social acceptance of fur and end the cruelest forms of trapping in America. With this campaign, people are actually able to repurpose and recycle old furs and give them back to the animals. We can’t undo the damage done to the many animals who suffered for those garments, but at least we can achieve some good in the end.”
The donated fur not only provides comfort and warmth to orphaned and injured wildlife, but also serves as a symbol to show that fur belongs to the animals, not to fashion. Born Free USA collected more than 100 furs since the first campaign in 2014.
Once collected, Born Free USA will send the fur to wildlife rehabilitation centers across the country, including the following campaign partners:
- Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation, Kendalia, Texas
- The Fund for Animals Wildlife Center, Ramona, California
- The Fund for Animals Cape Wildlife Center, Barnstable, Massachusetts
- Gila Wildlife Rescue, Silver City, New Mexico
- Urban Utopia Wildlife Rehabilitation, New York, New York
- Snowdon Wildlife Sanctuary, McCall, Idaho
Born Free USA welcomes new wildlife rehabilitation partners, who can contact the organization at info@bornfreeusa.org for more information.
Born Free USA commends the growing number of fashion retailers vowing to go fur free. In July 2015, the luxury brand Hugo Boss announced it will be completely removing real animal fur from its collections beginning with its Fall/Winter 2016 line. Hugo Boss is joining such brands as American Apparel, Esprit, H&M, Steve Madden, Marks & Spencer, and Topshop. For a full list of fur free fashion retailers, click here.
Born Free USA is a member of Fur Free Alliance, an international coalition of animal protection organizations working to bring an end to the exploitation and killing of animals for their fur. The Fur Free Alliance represents more than 40 animal protection organizations in 28 countries and millions of supporters worldwide.
Born Free USA is a global leader in animal welfare and wildlife conservation. Through litigation, legislation, and public education, Born Free USA leads vital campaigns against animals in entertainment, exotic “pets,” trapping and fur, and the destructive international wildlife trade. Born Free USA brings to North America the message of “compassionate conservation”—the vision of the United Kingdom-based Born Free Foundation, established in 1984 by Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna, stars of the iconic film Born Free, along with their son, Will Travers. Born Free’s mission is to end suffering of wild animals in captivity, conserve threatened and endangered species, and encourage compassionate conservation globally. More at www.bornfreeusa.org; www.twitter.com/bornfreeusa; and www.facebook.com/bornfreeusa.
Photos of orphaned wildlife at rehabilitation centers using donated fur collected by Born Free USA:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bornfreeusa/albums/72157645678555131
Photos of animal trapping (WARNING: some images are extremely graphic):
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bornfreeusa/albums/72157626059046521
Media Contact: Rodi Rosensweig, 203/270-8929, TheRodiCompany@gmail.com