Mirror and MailOnline have published photos in their articles that were secretly taken at Finnish fur farms. Finnish Fur Breeders’ Association FIFUR would like to shed light on the other side of the coin in this issue.
Fur farming in Finland is strictly controlled by Finnish legislation. The supervising authorities are Regional State Administration Agencies, Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, Tax Administration, supervising veterinarian, Finnish Food Authority, Building Control Committee, and Rescue Department. There has been a fur farm certification system in place since 2005. EU-wide WelFur animal welfare program, developed by independent scientists from seven universities in Europe, also guide farm operations. European Commission acknowledged WelFur in January 2019.
We must repeat once again that secret filming does not represent the whole truth. This filming is purposeful action from anti-fur activists. A couple of those pictures were taken in daylight at open farm day in 2019. Of all pictures, we can recognize only these photos and in them the animals are well kept. It is surprising that activists use our openness against us. We do not know where the other pictures were taken, could be anywhere. Not all fur farms in Finland belong to Finnish Fur Breeders’ Association. Association has no control over those farms.
It looks like that secret filming took place during whelping season. Why do animal rights activists disturb animals which are caring for their pups? Activists have been informed repeatedly that farms must be left alone during whelping season. ”Early summer is a delicate time at the farms as mink and fox pups are born. Dams should be left alone to take care of their pups without any distractions. Intruders cause stress to the animals and stressed animals may become aggressive towards each other or even kill their pups”, reminds FIFUR veterinarian Johanna Korpela.
Secret filming does not show the whole situation at the farms. Intruders search for sick animals at night and disturb all animals while searching. Where there are 10 000 – 20 000 animals at the farm, it is possible that sudden eye infections or wounds can occur between care and feeding rounds despite careful animal husbandry. “Although responsible fur farmers are doing their best, it is possible that some of the thousands of production animals can suddenly fall ill or even die”, says Association’s veterinarian Johanna Korpela. Sick animals are treated or put down, if the treatment does not work.
Death threats in social media
Because of the footage shown in the articles some farmers have received death threats in social media.
“One fur farmer and his family should just be killed and skinned and … throw their bodies to a composter, or whatever they do with the foxes. The following week the same thing at another farm. Pretty quickly the farmers would be working somewhere else”, says one. Another states “I f***ing hope that somebody tears your f***ing skin off the same way you do with the animals. I hope they skin you alive piece by piece.”
Because of the footage shown in the articles some farmers have received death threats in social media.
“One fur farmer and his family should just be killed and skinned and … throw their bodies to a composter, or whatever they do with the foxes. The following week the same thing at another farm. Pretty quickly the farmers would be working somewhere else”, says one. Another states “I f***ing hope that somebody tears your f***ing skin off the same way you do with the animals. I hope they skin you alive piece by piece.”
This is the level of discussion at its worst in social media: direct death threats towards farmers who have a legitimate profession. It is particularly disturbing as farmers also have family and children – and they try to do their utmost to take care of their animals the best way possible.
