This week, Born Free USA, a global leader in animal welfare and wildlife conservation, announced the return of its successful 2014 “Fur for the Animals” campaign, a donation drive to collect hats, coats, and other items made from animal fur. Donations will once again be sent to wildlife rehabilitation centers around the country and used to comfort orphaned and injured wildlife. This year’s drive will run September 8 to December 31.
According to Adam M. Roberts, CEO of Born Free USA and the Born Free Foundation:“
Animal trapping and fur farming are not only barbaric to animals, but also serious public safety and environmental issues. One of our goals is to reduce the supply, demand, and social acceptance of fur and end the cruelest forms of trapping in America. With this campaign, people are actually able to re-purpose and recycle old furs and give them back to the animals – we can’t undo the damage done to the many animals who suffered for those garments, but at least we can achieve some good in the end.
The donated fur not only provides comfort and warmth to orphaned and injured wildlife, but also serves as a symbol to show that fur belongs to the animals, not to fashion. Born Free USA collected over 100 furs since the first campaign in 2014.
How To Donate Fur
To donate, fur can be dropped off or shipped to Born Free USA, 2300 Wisconsin Ave NW, Suite 100B, Washington, DC 20007; or Born Free USA, 1220 H Street, Suite 103, Sacramento, CA 95814 before December 31, 2015.
Once collected, Born Free USA will send the fur to wildlife rehabilitation centers across the country, including the following campaign partners:
- Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation, Kendalia, Texas
- The Fund for Animals Wildlife Center, Ramona, California
- The Fund for Animals Cape Wildlife Center, Barnstable, Massachusetts
- Gila Wildlife Rescue, Silver City, New Mexico
- Urban Utopia Wildlife Rehabilitation, New York, New York
- Snowdon Wildlife Sanctuary, McCall, Idaho
Born Free USA welcomes new wildlife rehabilitation partners, who can contact the organization at [email protected], for more information.
A Fur-Free Pledge
Born Free USA commends the growing number of fashion retailers vowing to go fur-free. In July 2015 the luxury brand Hugo Boss announced it will be completely removing real animal fur from its collections beginning with their Fall/Winter 2016 line. Hugo Boss is joining such brands as American Apparel, Esprit, H&M, Steve Madden, Marks & Spencer and Topshop. For a full list of fur-free fashion retailers click here.
Born Free USA is a member of The Fur Free Alliance, an international coalition of animal protection organizations working to bring an end to the exploitation and killing of animals for their fur. The Fur Free Alliance represents more than 40 animal protection organizations in 28 countries and millions of supporters worldwide.