by Janet Lacava

Created on: December 29, 2008

I do not consider it immora to kill animals for fur but rather more unethical. In the days when we did not have other options to keep warm, yes, killing an animal for fur was okay. But then again, they did not just kill for the fur. They ate the animal and used all of the body parts. Bones made tools, they ate just about all of the animal, too.

There are still societies that are in need of doing the same but where I live, I can get coats that are just as warm without killing an animal. I have owned coats with fur, before I actually thought about it. It was vanity and now, if I want to be vain, I will do it with synthetics. I have a coat that is fake fur and it looks just as nice, okay, it is NOT as soft, but it keeps me warm, looks nice and is affordable, too.

Maybe if I were an Eskimo, this would not even be an issue, but my only reason for wearing fur would be vanity and truthfully, I am past that point in my life.

I have seen women, and men, walking around, proudly, in their fur coats and it does anger me a bit because it is just like the people who drive a Hummer, in the city, with one person in the car. They are more interested in showing off to others that they have money... and sometimes they do not really and go into debt just to convince people of their "success".

I know that, in the USA, we have become very wasteful. When I was visiting Italy this past summer, they did not have huge closets full of so many clothes, shoes, etc. In fact, they had so much less than the average American. They bought well-made things that are classic and stylish but few things. They tend to be more economical than Americans, partially because many things do cost so much more over there, but I feel that also because they are not ones to waste. I know that some mentioned that even poor Americans will spend too much on many things. That could be the reason why so many are in debt and declaring bankruptcy.

Years ago, I remember my grandmother had a racoon coat. She was born in 1899, the youngest of 13 children, and they did not have much. This was bought for her by my grandfather and she was so proud of it because she never had anything so nice. I would love to go into her closet and "pet" it and sometimes try it on. She only wore it for special ocassions, like weddings, in the winter and had it until she passed, even after it no longer fit her.

Those were the days when we did not consider that there were other options. With the slow extinction of so many animals, AND the horrible way many are raised and slaughtered for their fur, we do have to have to be more compassionate to these fabulous creatures who share our planet. For one day, I wish that all humans who have no heart for animals, would suffer their pain. I wonderf if it would change their ways.

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