Harrods: Last Big Store With Fur in the U.K.

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Harrods Ltd 87
135 Brompton Road
Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7XL

Dear Madam or Sir of Harrods,

I am surprised a name as sophisticated as Harrods Ltd sells fur and fur-trim items. In fact, Harrods is the only UK department store to carry real fur following Parliament's five-year-old ban on fur farming.

Even as fur farming restrictions expand throughout Europe, Harrods seems content to stumble backwards with an ethically adverse array of fur coats, trim, boots and other goods. I understand last year's collection featured furs formerly worn by muskrats, raccoons, foxes, beavers, minks, chinchillas, rabbits, wolves, coyotes and squirrels. No matter how you market the end product, ALL fur begins with violence and suffering!

On fur factory farms, animals spend their lives crammed inside dingy, waste-soaked cages. To preserve hides, many are electrocuted through their genitals. Others are "neck-popped," injected with pesticides, bludgeoned and beheaded, or asphyxiated with carbon monoxide.

Chances are some of your collection originated in China, the world's leading supplier of finished fur garments. At fur farms in China's Hebei Province, cruelty investigators videotaped workers carving off skin and fur from alert dogs, foxes and other animals. Some fully skinned animals continued to gasp and blink as their hearts pulsated another five to 10 minutes.

Like most conscientious people, I prefer to shop fur-free. Please keep me informed of any plans to replace fur with sophisticated faux alternatives. I will gladly patronize Harrods once a no-fur policy is permanently instated.

Sincerely, 

Datum: Thu, 2 Nov 2006 14:59:58 -0000
Von: "Customer Services" <customer.services(at)harrods.com>
Betreff: RE: Harrods: Last Big Store With Fur in the U.K.

Dear xxx

Thank you for your email. Harrods understands public concerns relating to the supply and wearing of fur (and fur-trimmed items) and in line with other retailers seeks to ensure that its customers are only offered fur ranges supplied and produced by highly reputable companies adhering to internationally recognised legal and ethical standards. Serving a truly global clientele with diverse tastes, Harrods feels that it must not dictate to its customers what they may or may not purchase and firmly believes that it is up to the individual to make his/her own purchase decisions based on their own moral beliefs and code. Thank you for taking the time to bring your views to our attention. With kind regards

Yours sincerely

Laurence Williams
Manager
Customer Services