Blame the seal hunt if you find out you're wearing Fluffy or Rover.
The federal government won't ban imports of cat and dog fur because doing so might undermine Canada's support for the seal hunt, a newly released document shows.
An internal memo shows government officials urged Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz not to follow the United States and Europe in barring cat and dog fur from entering the country.
Officials worried a ban would weaken Canada's argument against other countries closing their borders to its seal products.
"A ban could have implications for the farmed fur industry in Canada and for Canada's position against the banning of Canadian seal products by other countries," the memo says.
The Canadian Press obtained the March 26 document under the Access to Information Act.
Animal-rights groups accuse China and other Asian countries of inhumane handling and killing cats and dogs for their fur.
The groups claim the fur ends up in clothing, accessories and other products that are shipped abroad. They say these products are often mislabelled to hide their contents.
The memo says the Agriculture Department has repeatedly asked Vancouver-based Fur-Bearer Defenders for evidence cat and dog fur is entering Canada, but that so far the group hasn't backed up its claims.
That hasn't stopped the U.S. and the European Union from banning imports of dog and cat fur. But those places aren't home to the world's largest seal hunt.
A ban would put Canada in the tricky spot of backing a practice critics call inhumane while blocking another because it's seen as taboo in the West.
Few issues stir as much passion in Canada and abroad as the annual East Coast hunt. Animal-rights groups have for years campaigned against it, at times enlisting the support of celebrities like rock legend Paul McCartney in their cause.
Many Canadian politicians support the hunt. They say it gives remote regions an economic boost.
Despite Canada's protests, the European Union voted this summer to ban imports of seal products. The Conservative government has vowed to appeal the decision at the World Trade Organization.
Barring imports of cat and dog fur could weaken Canada's case against the seal ban, officials warned in the memo to Ritz.
"An import ban on cat and dog fur, if it were to be considered, could ... undermine Canada's position against the implementation of foreign import bans on Canadian seal products," the document says.
It's not against the law to import animal pelts and hides, except if they're from endangered species. And Canada's customs regulations don't distinguish between furs.
Feds wont bar cat and dog fur imports because of seal ban: document
- Published on September 23rd, 2009
- Published on June 30th, 2010
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The Canadian Press
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Comments
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- Dave
- - July 2nd, 2010 at 13:31:16
I can't believe Canada wouldn't ban the import of dog and cat fur because of the seal hunt. Any reasonable, progressive nation would have nothing to do with dog and cat fur (and the cruelty that goes along with it) - to hell with the seal hunt.
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- Jenna
- - July 2nd, 2010 at 13:26:37
Absolutely disgusting!
http://www.bwcsa.co.za/index.php/animal-exploitation/cat-and-dog-fur-trim -
- Telling it like it is
- - July 2nd, 2010 at 13:24:30
I bet Bridget Curran is coughing up a fur ball right about now.
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- Seamus
- - July 2nd, 2010 at 13:24:03
Can't have it both ways. A lot of Asian countries raise dogs for food. However, these are not your traditional domestic pets. They are a special breed that is treated a lot like cattle. Considered a delicacy. Truth is, you can't say you agree with the seal hnt and then disagree with another. As long as the animal isn't endangered and the hunting is humane then the hunting of any animal is all right. The animals status as a pet or being cute shouldn't ever come into play.
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- Telling it like it is
- - July 2nd, 2010 at 13:21:06
jaime brennan,
PETA had the intelligence to call fish ''Sea Kittens''...
explain to me how a fish and kitten are the same?? -
- jaime
- - July 2nd, 2010 at 13:18:45
By Cat, do you mean Linx and by Dog do you mean Wolf? If not, and you mean my household pet fur then this article is sick and the officials must be nuts to compare cats to seals.
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- Paul
- - July 2nd, 2010 at 13:10:28
Proper thing I suppose, but what we really should be banning is wine, cheese, other products from Europe. Individually we should all be avoiding european products as much as possible.
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- Peggy
- - July 2nd, 2010 at 13:10:04
Are these wild cats and dogs? I think that is a big difference. A seal out in the wild or someone catching stray domesticated cats or dogs.
Canada shouldn't be so afraid. If they want to allow the sale of seal pelts go for it and let the free market decide who buys them. Same with cats and dogs.
Canada can listen to its citizens and decide whether or not to allow dog and cat fur to be imported and/or sold within it's borders. -
- Dave
- - July 1st, 2010 at 20:19:41
I can't believe Canada wouldn't ban the import of dog and cat fur because of the seal hunt. Any reasonable, progressive nation would have nothing to do with dog and cat fur (and the cruelty that goes along with it) - to hell with the seal hunt.
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- Jenna
- - July 1st, 2010 at 20:13:41
Absolutely disgusting!
http://www.bwcsa.co.za/index.php/animal-exploitation/cat-and-dog-fur-trim -
- Telling it like it is
- - July 1st, 2010 at 20:10:13
I bet Bridget Curran is coughing up a fur ball right about now.
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- Seamus
- - July 1st, 2010 at 20:09:24
Can't have it both ways. A lot of Asian countries raise dogs for food. However, these are not your traditional domestic pets. They are a special breed that is treated a lot like cattle. Considered a delicacy. Truth is, you can't say you agree with the seal hnt and then disagree with another. As long as the animal isn't endangered and the hunting is humane then the hunting of any animal is all right. The animals status as a pet or being cute shouldn't ever come into play.
-
- Telling it like it is
- - July 1st, 2010 at 20:04:23
jaime brennan,
PETA had the intelligence to call fish ''Sea Kittens''...
explain to me how a fish and kitten are the same?? -
- jaime
- - July 1st, 2010 at 20:00:21
By Cat, do you mean Linx and by Dog do you mean Wolf? If not, and you mean my household pet fur then this article is sick and the officials must be nuts to compare cats to seals.
-
- Paul
- - July 1st, 2010 at 19:46:29
Proper thing I suppose, but what we really should be banning is wine, cheese, other products from Europe. Individually we should all be avoiding european products as much as possible.
-
- Peggy
- - July 1st, 2010 at 19:45:48
Are these wild cats and dogs? I think that is a big difference. A seal out in the wild or someone catching stray domesticated cats or dogs.
Canada shouldn't be so afraid. If they want to allow the sale of seal pelts go for it and let the free market decide who buys them. Same with cats and dogs.
Canada can listen to its citizens and decide whether or not to allow dog and cat fur to be imported and/or sold within it's borders.
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