SOLUTIONS TO FUR-FARMING
Overview in Canada
Canada has been described as "unusual among advanced nations in its apparent historical reluctance to regulate fur farming” and its welfare laws have been characterized as “weak” in comparison to other countries (Simon, 2023).
Researchers consistently show that it is a resource-intensive industry with a carbon footprint significantly larger than livestock farming or other corners of the fashion industry. There is also significant evidence that fur farming is a great water polluter, and concerns around the use of toxic chemicals in the processing of the fur for commercialization.
The COVID-19 pandemic also raised public health concerns, as several zoonotic pathogens and diseases have been associated with fur-farmed animals (Warwick et al., (2024)).
Recommendations
The Fur-Bearers Post-Fur Future Report recommended that “Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada establish a program to provide payments to owners of fur farms impacted by the prohibition.”
Some farms have been repurposed as solar energy farms, horticulture farms, fruit and vegetable farms, and even a microbrewery.
The closure of farms could restore ecosystems that have been polluted with ground contamination from decades of industrial use.
Countries like Denmark, Belgium, and Ireland provided financial incentives to speed up the transition away from fur farms. This includes just simple compensation or digressive compensation, so that the earlier farmers closed out their farms the more they received.
The pandemic brought attention to zoonotic diseases, but COVID-19 itself ran rampant in fur farms worldwide, which led to bans in many countries. Ending fur farming is a strong measure for future protection.
​Pressuring local and provincial governments and supporting local animal rights groups can help mobilize these changes. Consumer pressure also has an impact. This includes not purchasing fur or supporting brands that sell it, and writing to stores to ask them to consider phasing fur out of their collections.
Advocacy and Scientific Coalitions
