Every year on the day after Thanksgiving for the last two decades, thousands of people around the U.S. have held demonstrations, marches, vigils, and other activities for Fur Free Friday to protest a global multi-billion dollar industry that kills over 40 million animals annually. Holding this national day of action on the busiest shopping day of the year allows activists to reach the greatest number of consumers, including those who may be thinking about buying fur as a gift or for their own wardrobe.

Animals on fur farms spend their lives trapped in wire cages stacked outdoors from which the only escape is death. In the wild, mink, foxes, and other fur-bearing species have a range of many miles, so being constantly confined and exposed to the harsh elements is a source of constant suffering for them. They are supposed to live in the wild where they can experience the natural existence that is their birthright, but are instead exploited for their coats and killed by anal or vaginal electrocution, which fries them from the inside out and stops their hearts while they are fully conscious.

Fur-bearing species are also caught in the wild using painful metal traps, and can linger in excruciating pain for days before a trapper comes to put them out of their misery. About one quarter of animals caught in this way escape by chewing their own limbs off (only to be killed by predators). If people knew the ugly truth about fur production, including the industry's illegal use of fur from dogs and cats, they would realize that even a little fur trim causes animals a lot of unnecessary suffering.

What You Can Do:

Last year, IDA supporters and local organizers coordinated a total of 43 Fur Free Friday activities in 20 states (as well as one in France). We hope this year will be even bigger, and everyone can help by attending or organizing an event. Help save the lives of fur-bearing animals on Friday, November 23rd with these activities:

• Anti-fur marches bring a compassionate message to the streets where people throng on the busiest shopping day of the year in search of gifts for their loved ones.
• Fur funerals and vigils honor the lives and mourn the deaths of the animals that are killed every year to make fur garments, toys, and fashion accessories.
• Street theatre brings the suffering of fur-bearing animals to life and engages audiences with props, drama, and creative costumes.
• Undercover video footage allows activists to expose fur industry cruelty with a battery-powered TV/VCR, making a lasting impression on people who may never have seen the reality of animals' suffering before.
• Film screenings give people an opportunity to learn about the fur issue in greater depth. Tribe of Heart's documentary The Witness remains one of the most effective tools animal advocates have to open people's eyes to the fur industry's abuse of animals.

IDA has big plans to help animals this Fur Free Friday: what about you? Please be a hero to animals this November 23rd by taking part in this important annual day of action aimed at putting the brutal fur trade out of business. If you would like more information on getting involved, please contact . If you would like to find an event in your area or are interested in registering one, please click here. We hope you will consider planning an event in your area so we can promote it and urge our supporters in your area to join you.