FurKills.org

The Year of the Dog is starting out rough for China, as IDA and other animal allies throughout the world continue to expose the disgusting abuse of cats and dogs killed for fur in their country. IDA's Bill Dyer had hoped to get at least 200 people to help expose the "true price of fur" by holding signs and banners and handing out leaflets at a demonstration on Thursday, January 26th at the Consulate General of China in Los Angeles, but the turnout exceeded even his high expectations. Nearly 250 people representing many different nationalities came to speak out against cruelty to cats and dogs in the famously multicultural Southern California city. Many were motivated to action by what they saw on The Larry King Live show several weeks ago, which featured a panel of celebrity animal advocates and policy experts as well as gruesome undercover footage of cats and dogs being beaten and skinned alive for their pelts.

At the protest, activists urged people to boycott the Beijing 2008 Olympics and all products labeled "Made in China" to let the Chinese Government know that their economy will suffer the financial consequences of diminished tourism and consumer support until they make animal welfare a priority. Though the demonstration was peaceful, Consulate officials locked all the doors and refused to meet with the organizers, who had planned to present them with a letter calling for an end to the cruelty and a DVD documenting abuses on Chinese fur farms. Even though Chinese officials refused to listen to the demonstrators' pleas for justice, the organizers got the word out to the media with a press conference that was covered by three television networks, two radio stations and two newspapers. As word gets out and more people get involved in the campaign against cat and dog fur, the Chinese Government may learn that they cannot ignore Americans' outrage over their abuse of dogs and cats merely by locking the doors. We won't stop raising our voices until they make substantial changes in their treatment of animals.

The Los Angeles protest was the kickoff of an international campaign to end the Chinese cat and dog fur trade. We will hold another major demonstration against fur in L.A. on Sunday, February 12th. On Monday, February 13th, we will host a protest at the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco and the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C. in conjunction with protests being held at Chinese Consulates and Embassies by other animal rights organizations in New York, Canada, France and Israel. We are also actively trying to get more animal protection groups in other countries to participate in this global day of action against fur. By working together, we can focus the world's attention on the horrors that the international fur trade inflicts upon millions of innocent animals every day.

What You Can Do:

Join IDA at our upcoming protests as we fight to save canines and other animals from a horrible death.

What: Los Angeles fur protest
When: Sunday, February 12th, 12:00 p.m.
Where: Intersection of Broadway at Cesar Chavez in Los Angeles. For more information, contact Bill Dyer at bill@idausa.org or (310) 301-7730

What: San Francisco fur protest
When: Monday, February 13th, 12:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Where: Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in San Francisco, 1450 Laguna Street (at the corner of Geary & Laguna (map)
For more information and to RSVP, please contact Melissa Gonzalez at melissa@idausa.org or (415) 388-9641, ext. 228.

What: Washington, D.C. fur protest
When: Monday, February 13th, 11:00 a.m.
Where: Embassy of China, 2300 Connecticut Ave., Washington, D.C. (map)
For more info and to RSVP, contact Rosa Close at Planetanimal@msn.com.
Click http://ga0.org/campaign/ChineseAnimalLaws to sign IDA's petition urging the Chinese Government to pass National Animal Welfare Laws.
Tell the pet store owners and managers in your community that you are boycotting products made in China as a protest against the Chinese cat and dog fur trade, and urge them to join the boycott by refusing to sell toys or any other products (like bowls, leashes, etc.) that are manufactured in China. If the owners or managers want proof that cats and dogs are being killed for fur in China, write to IDA at antifur@idausa.org, and we will send you some of our materials, including a video and brochures.
Watch IDA's new PSA exposing the abominations that take place behind the scenes of the Chinese cat and dog fur industry by clicking www.idausa.org/psa_frame.html and scrolling to the bottom of the page. Be forewarned, however, that the PSA contains scenes that are extremely graphic and disturbing, and viewer discretion is advised.
Visit IDA's website www.furkills.org for more information about the fur industry.

View photos from Los Angeles January 26th protest

More than 120 advocates attended a march through Chinatown in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 12th. Tourists and merchants were given flyers regarding the dog and cat fur trade in China. Most were horrified and were completely unaware of the practice. Merchants were given flyers in Chinese explaining the penalties for selling dog and cat fur in the U.S.