Your Say

23/03/2004
Euro-MPs claim dogs and cats are bred for pelts
Western Mail

by Steve Dube

THE cruel trade in cat and dog fur has spread to farms in Europe.

Conservative Euro-MPs are renewing calls for an EU-wide ban on the production and trade of cat and dog fur and skins and say the problem is no longer confined to the Far East.

Wales Euro-MP and EU Conservative group leader Jonathan Evans and Scottish Euro-MP Struan Stevenson hit out at claims that no cat or dog fur farms existed in Europe and said it was wrong to leave the matter to individual governments.

"It's a despicable and cruel trade and we are determined to bring it to an end," said Mr Evans.
EU health and consumer protection minister David Byrne claims that cats and dogs are not farmed for their fur in the 15 EU states and the assertion is backed by officials in Brussels.

But Mr Evans and Mr Stevenson say they have evidence that the animals are being farmed on their doorstep.

"We did our own investigation simply by selecting half-a-dozen furriers in the Brussels area," said Mr Stevenson.

They told the furriers they wanted cat blankets, which are said to be good for people with rheumatism and arthritis and three furriers said they could supply them.

Using a hidden camera they went to meet the traders, one of whom said they were farmed in Belgium.

"The film showed great piles of fat scraped from the inside of the skins and low-level buildings like you would see on a pig farm," said Mr Stevenson.

"We are pretty convinced that's where the cats and dogs are being reared and killed."
They also said that teams of people were rounding up strays in European cities to supply the trade.

A total of 346 Euro-MPs have signed a resolution calling for a Europe-wide ban and the Council of Ministers is understood to be unanimously in favour.

"But the Commissioners say they don't think they could apply an EU ban," said Mr Stevenson.

"We are not calling for a ban on animal welfare grounds although it is cruel but because it is consumer fraud."

Mr Stevenson, a farmer who is also chairman of the EU fisheries committee, has obtained a coat made from 42 German Shepherd puppies, a blanket made from 20 cats and a pelt made from four Golden Retrievers.

He got involved in the campaign after seeing a video that showed a dog being killed by a knife in the groin in order to avoid damage to the fur.

"I'm a farmer but I was shocked at seeing a dog that was clearly a pet tied to a gate while the butcher lifted its leg and sliced its artery," he said.

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