Footage released from B.C. mink farms is ‘horrifying’ says BC SPCA

VANCOUVER – The Association for the Protection of Fur-Bearing Animals (APFA) has released footage from several Canadian fur farms, including mink farms in British Columbia.

The BC SPCA is calling the footage “horrifying”.

In a press release they say experts who have seen the footage say it is disturbing, noting the often-filthy living conditions, the tiny cages the animals live in, and stereotypical behaviours such as continuously circling and jumping up the cage wall or biting the cage wires.

WATCH the YouTube video.

Wildlife veterinarian Dr. Stefan Harsch says these behaviours “are clear signs of stress and suffering.”

Dr. Sara Dubois, the BC SPCA chief scientific officer, says the footage shows the “inherently inhumane” fur farming industry, which has been investigated in B.C. on more than one occasion, most recently in August.

“Fur farming is a little-known industry in the province despite hundreds of thousands of mink being raised and killed each year in B.C., due to the large international exportation of products for foreign markets,” says Dubois “The breeding and farming of any animal who is wild in nature is of great concern to the BC SPCA because the internationally recognized ‘Five Freedoms’*, including freedom to express natural behaviours that promote well-being, cannot be met.”

The BC SPCA is reminding the public that the best way to stop fur farming is to say “no” to all fur products including clothing, accessories with trim, and animal oils. Anyone interested in taking action on this issue can visit spca.bc.ca or MakeFurHistory.com to learn more.

The Five Freedoms provided by the BC SPCA:

1. Freedom from hunger and thirst
2. Freedom from pain, injury and disease
3. Freedom from distress
4. Freedom from discomfort
5. Freedom to express behaviours that promote well-being