Fur farming has never been exposed as much as during the latest years, when activists took the cameras as effective tools to let the people see the truth behind fur coats and fur trims sold in posh boutiques.

In 2008 and 2009 norwegian activists of “Nettwerk for dyrs frihet” made two different and extensive investigations in fur farms of their country. More than 150 farms have been investigated, some of them forced to close down by authorities right after the investigation went on Tv and sparked a great debate in the whole country. Many farms were in fact running without controls and the work of “Nettwerk for Dyrs Frihet” put the authorities in the corner, forcing them to check the animal welfare rules in the farms. You can see the investigations here: www.forbypels.no/english

As the autumn-winter season of 2009 brings more fur in the shops all over the world, activists in Spain and Denmark exposed this bloody industry once more, gaining much exposure and creating a lot of troubles for the farmers. The timing is perfect, hitting the industry right now that they are preparing to sell more death to customers ignoring how much sufferint lies behind this fashion.

In Denmark the organization Anima has worked to get images from 32 fur farms in their country, the biggest producer of pelts in the world. About 2000 fur farms are present in Denmark with an astonishing production of 14 million dead animal pelts. Fox farming has just been banned a few months ago, with a phase-out period of 10 years, but mink farmers fear the same ethical code could be applied to minks too. That is why they tried so hard to stop the publication of the images taken in their farms, where a lot of animal suffering has been found and documented. The documentary has been shown on national Tv2 channel and the pictures on different media in the country. A debate has already started, with some MEPs and parties already asking for a ban of mink farming. You can see the investigation her (in danish): http://anima.dk/forbydminkavl

In Spain the organization Igualdad Animal/Animal Equality has done a long work, entering most of spanish mink farms and documenting the birth, life and death of these poor animals. Shocking images show also the skinning of the minks, shot with an hidden camera in the pelting room of a farm. The investigation has been made public with a press conference a few days after the raid of 4 mink farms in the same night caused a lot of attention in the media, taking advantage of this national debate even if the production work of the video was not completed. The images have been shown in almost all most important media in Spain and also in Italy. You can read more here: http://animalequality.net/news/animal-equality-reveals-investigation-m ink-farms-spain

With all these investigations revealing the dark truths of the fur industry, farmers are shaking and companies like MaxMara have no more ways to hide. The truth is there, fur is suffering and death, and MaxMara should stop being part of this bloody business.

We will continue to speak for the animals, and no one can deter us!