Fury over RCMP Fur Hat!
As shown here - the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's (RCMP's) official winter uniform hat uses the furs and skins of 2-3 muskrats (per hat) that have suffered in cruel steel traps.
In fact, at least 4,500 muskrats are still trapped and killed EACH YEAR to make more RCMP hats.
Perpetuating
The Suffering
Many muskrats are
trapped with ‘Stop Loss’ traps - Leg-Hold traps specially designed for
muskrats. An extra spring slams
down onto the muskrat, pinning his body so he cannot chew or wring off his own
leg to escape the steel jaws of the trap.
Many muskrats are trapped near or under the water. Even the Canadian and American Veterinary Medical Associations deem drowning as inhumane and unacceptable.
Wearing
Fur Hats Contradicts Values of Canadians AND the RCMP's own stated Core Values
80% of Canadians oppose the use of the Leg-Hold Trap (Angus Reid Poll, 1996)
As Canadians (and others!) learn about the cruelty of Leg-Hold traps and other traps, they don't want to be a part of it, and thus they stop buying fur. This has caused the number of animals trapped in Canada to plummet from a high of 5-1/2 million animals per year, to now less than one million. The number of muskrats trapped in particular, has fallen from almost 2 million muskrats per year, to 200,000.
“Trapping has been dying for 15 years… Factored out [trapping is] a 50-cent-an-hour job.” – Bill Baker, trapper
And the use of trapped muskrats in the RCMP's winter hat contradicts even their own stated Core Values, one of which states:
"Compassion: demonstrating care and sensitivity in word and action".
Fur-Bearer Defenders Visits RCMP Headquarters!
FBD brought Leg-Hold traps, a new cruelty-of-muskrat-trapping video, and reasoned arguments to RCMP headquarters in Ottawa.
We also got national coverage in the media twice on this issue, including a Cover story in the National Post on September 30th, 2004. Canadians and people everywhere are learning about the suffering involved in the making of these hats - and they are protesting:
"There are many excellent alternative materials available and it is well past time for the RCMP to do the right thing and adopt one of these non-fur alternatives. Not only will the RCMP be doing what is right, but it will create significant positive regard in the mind of the public." - Brenda, Mississauga, Ontario.
"I am disappointed by such a weak attitude from the force. I expect the RCMP to show more strength and determination to overcome a difficulty." - Aimée, Agassiz, British Columbia.
"Here in the UK, we are in the process of doing away with Black Bear hats worn by the Royal Guards. The RCMP are world-famous and highly regarded as one of the greatest institutions of this day and age. If they are to continue to present their splendid image to everyone, it should not be tainted by cruelty and indifference to animal suffering." Richard Adams, well-known English novelist, of Watership Down fame.
Testing Alternatives
The RCMP is now saying "This winter (2004/05) plans are in place to test a variety of new materials" as possible replacements for their fur hats. This is a terrific start, though the RCMP has yet to make a commitment, and their testing has been seriously limited, as well as secretive.
The Animals Need Your Help!
Get active in your area. Publicize the trapping issue by printing and displaying our RCMP campaign poster. Download your poster today! (Quality of the poster may vary). Or contact Fur-Bearer Defenders for your RCMP Poster Pack!
 |
|
|
| Click Here to download a Hiqh Quality version of the poster (10MB). Be patient this will take awhile | Click Here to download the fast loading version of the poster (1.5 MB). |
Write
the RCMP!
Tell them how you feel about trapped animal fur on their uniform.
(Or if you've already written, thank you! - and please write again!)
Commissioner
Giuliano Zaccardelli
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
1200
Vanier Parkway
Ottawa,
Ontario
K1A 0R2
You can also visit www.rcmp.ca and email them using their online contact form.
