Greetings from sunny Thousand Oaks, California.

While our climate is not generally conducive to the wearing of fur coats, I wear mine whenever possible. I have 3 coats, all purchased second hand, and I just love them, and not because they are a "fashion statement". They are the warmest coats I own. Went back east in the winter to visit my brother, and my mink coat and hat kept me nice and toasty in single digit temps. Because we're loaded with so many bleeding heart liberals here in CA, it's not uncommon to have to defend the wearing of my coats, and keep an extra eye peeled for potential attackers, too. Your web site gives honest, logical information about the fur industry and how it operates. You've provided great ammunition that enables thinking people to be able to throw back being "green" at this intolerant, propagandist movement disguised as love for animals. Most of the younger people who have taken up the anti-fur mantle are well-meaning, but totally misguided. It's the hard-core, near religious, stance of the extremists like PETA who mislead and brainwash the youngsters, and while claiming to be non-violent, think nothing of destroying other people's property and livelihoods to advance their agendas. Additionally, these same people claim to have the welfare of indigenous people, such as the Indian tribes of Canada, who rely so heavily on the fur trade for their livelihoods, and our also our Native Americans, at heart, but do not hesitate to destroy the products of their labors. Fur and leather are difficult materials to work with, and making garments and accessories out of them requires an extremely high level of craftsmanship and expertise. I've sewed most of my life, and greatly admire the workmanship that goes into fur products.

I have a lot of respect for trappers, who thoroughly understand wildlife management and realities of animal life in the wild. We, today, do not have the natural predators that kept animal populations in check so they did not overpopulate limited feeding grounds and habitats. That void in predators has been taken up by trappers and hunters. Anyone who knows hunters and trappers knows that the "innards" are a food source for many, including the native peoples of Canada and the US. Making clothing of the "outsides" is making full use of resources and recycling what isn't going to be eaten or used for other products.

Many years ago, while working a foot beat Christmas patrol in a local mall, I had the opportunity to chat with a salesman in the fur section of a major department store. He was very lonesome and hadn't had a single customer all night, so I stopped to talk with him, and asked him questions about furs. He told me about what is done with the animal carcasses and how so many things are made with them. I also got an education about selecting a quality garment or accessory, and the difference between male & female mink pelts, etc. It was very enlightening and I appreciated it. I was in uniform, so not doing any shopping, and a full-length mink coat was way outside my budget at the time. All the coats and accessories I currently have were purchased second hand.

Being an animal lover, yes, I'd like to see that animals utilized for food and clothing are well-treated and dispatched humanely. But, the extreme views and lack of respect for others' property and way of life totally turns me off to many so-called "animal rights" organizations. Some years back, a group broke into a mink ranch and turned the animals loose. Many of those minks made it to local chicken farms, raided the hen houses for the eggs and killed some of the chickens, causing headaches for the chicken ranchers. The laws of un intended consequences (always one of the results of liberals' dictates and activities) at work, and obviously no concern for others, or of the minks after they were turned loose. I proudly wear my fur coats and hats as a "middle finger" to those folks since it irritates them so much to see furs in public.

Thanks so much for the valuable information; I will pass it on to others.
Mrs. KB