12/6 May I Have Your Fur?
I found this article on This Dish is Veg and I thought it was so outrageous I wanted to share it with you. Mac Smith writes about a program created by the Buffalo Exchange called Coats For Cubs. The Exchange collects fur coats and fur trimmed accessories and donates them to wildlife organizations to use as comfort for orphaned and injured animals. According to Smith,” Starting on Black Friday and running until Earth Day 2012, Buffalo Exchange is gathering furs to give back to (their) animal charity program “Coats for Cubs.” The Exchange has donated over 6,000 fur items for these displaced animals since they began their program in 2006.
I can not think of a more deliberate and effective way to create value out of an act so senseless and cruel. Ignoring, throwing away or discarding fur items will not change the horrific manner in which they were produced. This program instead presents a way to create a loving act and humane value where there was none. Taking the furs that already exist and using them in this way is so brilliant. I am astounded by this program. It makes me feel hopeful and empowered to do the same. The premise is exactly like the oyster shell conversation we had earlier this week, where used oyster shells from restaurants are being cleaned and recycled to help re-populate an endangered oyster habitat in South Florida. These two scenarios illustrate that there are more ways to affect change than by asking people to stop doing what they are doing, like don’t eat meat, stay away from dairy or never wear fur or leather. I can’t even imagine what my friends and family would say if I asked them for their fur coats, they would think I had gone mad. ” Hey mom, can I have your fur coat to give to a family of orphaned raccoons? “They need it more than you do and it is really passe anyway.” Be an agent of change by starting where you are, using what you have and doing what you can.
The Buffalo Exchange has storefronts in eleven states across the country. I don’t know if we could send items to them or not but I think it is worth a phone call. I would be even cooler to collect furs locally and take them to your own wildlife shelters or sanctuaries. I think that is where I am going to start. This is the wildest idea and I just love it.
Have a delicious day.
Thank you Mac Smith for your original article in TDIV
Tags: Buffalo Exchange, Coats For Cubs, compassionate products, exploits of a vegan wannabe, going veg, trying vegan, vegan, vegan challenge, vegan wannabe
