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furbearerdefenders.com
Highlights from Expert Statements
Independent, nationally and world-renowned academic and professional experts in wildlife, animal behavior and
veterinary medicine reviewed the video footage obtained at fur farms across Canada, with a specific focus on the
conditions in which they animals are housed (that is to say typical mink and fox cages used in fur farms throughout
North America). Below are highlights from their statements:
Stefan Harsch, DMV
Dr. Harsch is a veterinarian specializing in wildlife emergency and trauma medicine. He graduated 1998 from the
Free University in Berlin, Germany. After passing the US licensing program for foreign trained veterinarians in
2005, he joined the South Florida Wildlife Center in Fort Lauderdale FL as a staff veterinarian. He has served for 7
years as the Director of Veterinary Services at SFWC, one of the nation’s largest wildlife hospitals run by the
Humane Society of the US. In April he transferred to its sister facility on Cape Cod, the Cape Wildlife Center in
Barnstable MA.
“Minks are solitary semiaquatic animals with large territories to roam. Besides filthy water bowls there is no
access to a water source in a way these animals can live their natural behaviors. Confinement in such small wire
cages in close proximity to other animals and the denial of any enrichment in the enclosure causes significant
stress and leads to the pathologic behavior patterns observed in the video. Stereotypic behaviors like continuously
circling and jumping up the cage wall, biting the wires are a clear sign of stress and suffering. The filthy
environment with decomposing feces piled under and even inside the cages adds another level of stress to these
confined animals. The significant ammonia levels originating from the feces in this overcrowded environment most
certainly cause irritation of the mucous membranes and could even reach toxic levels. Minks have highly
developed sense of smell, exposing these animals to such noxious fumes can only be considered cruel. Additionally,
the immediate contact to feces from different animals as shown in the footage will inevitably lead to parasite
infestation.”
Dr. Sherri Cox, Wildlife Veterinarian
Sherri Cox, DVM, MBA is a graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College, Canada. She focuses on native wildlife
and assists wildlife rehabilitators with patients in their care. Dr. Cox also teaches at wildlife rehabilitation
conferences and supervises wildlife biology, veterinary, and veterinary technician students interested in wildlife
medicine.
“The video and images provided of mink and foxes on various fur farms are disturbing. The horrific conditions of
the animals’ physical environment and apparent state of health are unacceptable. Basic food and water alone do
not mean that humane treatment and acceptable conditions exist. Water, if present, appears filthy from feces or
unattainable in the cases of many foxes. Stereotypic behaviour – pacing incessantly in their small cages – suggest
animals are frustrated. Preventing normal behaviours and lack of environmental enrichment contribute to stress
of captive animals. Rusted, broken wire-flooring can lead to serious injuries to feet and toes. Having grid or wiremesh flooring as the only substrate in cages for prolonged periods not only can lead to foot lesions, including
fractured toes, it can also affect animals’ normal behaviours such as foraging and nesting. Sharp-edged and
rusted water bowls (if present) for foxes can also lead to injury. Mink cannibalizing cage mates, evidence of selfmutilation and the overall suffering of animals from multiple injuries depicted in the videos is an animal welfare
concern.”
Sara Dubois, PhD
Dr. Sara Dubois is the Chief Scientific Officer of the BC Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and has
worked for the BC SPCA since 2001. Dr. Dubois directs province-wide animal welfare science operations,
education and advocacy projects for the Society. Her academic qualifications include a Biology BSc, Animal
Science MSc, and Animal Science PhD. Dr. Dubois serves as Adjunct Professor at the University of British
Columbia’s Animal Welfare Program and as an Associate Academic at the Centre for Compassionate
Conservation, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia. Dr. Dubois’ areas of expertise are rooted in wildlife
welfare and relevant public policy and legislation, but her role also aims to develop relationships with academia
and advocate for animals used in science. She works on diverse issues from wildlife rehabilitation and oil spill
response, to captive wild animal management, exotic pets, urban wildlife conflict, and compassionate conservation
and assists in wildlife cruelty investigations.
“The following statement is based on my professional opinion in viewing video footage of fur farms in Canada.
Although the location of the farms are unknown, the video footage overall appears consistent with the general
practices that I observed on a BC fur farm in summer 2014. Note, there are no fox farms in the province, and thus
my observational experience is limited to mink farming. In terms of welfare, there was no appropriate
manipulative enrichment in any cages and many cages had no platform/hammock/shelf as required by the NFACC
Code of Practice for Care and Handling of Farmed Mink. Stereotypies are present in numerous animals, and can
be seen regardless of being housed singly, in pairs, or in family groups. Overcrowding of juvenile animals past the
period for separation was observed and is a great concern for heat exhaustion, aggression, and injury.
Observations from the video and from experience confirm that these farms are not meeting current Codes of
Practice. Even if farms meet the lowest required minimum cage density, individual animal movement is restricted.
Other concerns that may be present in the video, but would need confirmation by visual and medical examination,
include: emaciation, obesity, and illness due to Aleutian disease. Although a few of the above husbandry concerns
can be addressed by the Codes of Practice, as a farmed species that is still wild in its nature, the generally
accepted practices can never fully meet the welfare needs for mink. This is a semi-aquatic carnivorous species with
a daily activity budget that is mostly allocated to swimming and hunting. Therefore, even if a legally acceptable
standard of industry practice is achieved, the industry will remain inherently inhumane”
Sara Shields, PhD
Dr. Sara Shields holds a doctorate in animal behavior from the University of California-Davis and has over a
decade of experience as a researcher, teacher and consultant in farm animal behavior and welfare science. She is
currently the Behavior and Welfare Specialist for Humane Society International.
“The footage shows fox and mink in cages on fur farms. Both species are highly intelligent, social, energetic
animals that would normally spend considerable time roaming, exploring, hunting and patrolling a vast territory
in the wild. The deprived conditions in which these animals are seen in the video do not meet their behavioral
needs. For example, mink are semi-aquatic animals and need water for swimming, and research has demonstrated
that mink are stressed when denied access to this vital resource. Further, the cages shown are dirty and
overcrowded and do not provide enough individual space. Due to the un-enriched, restricted space, many of the
animals have begun to display stereotypic behavior, a type of abnormal, repetitive, invariant movement pattern
that develops when animals are confined to environments that do not meet their behavioral needs. Stereotypies are
outward signs of frustration, distress and neurological pathology. Considering the changing social climate on
animal welfare, the public’s moral outrage at fur farming, and the alternatives to fur products that are widely
available, it is unconscionable that animals are still being kept this way. Through ongoing ethology research, we
simply know too much about the welfare of farmed animals to permit this to continue.”
Mary Richardson, DVM
For over 20 years, Dr. Richardson has been involved in animal welfare issues. She chaired the Animal Welfare
Committee for the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association and produced policy statements on a wide range of
topics. Dr. Richardson also served as chair of the Animal Care Review Board for the Solicitor General of Ontario,
during which time she presided over court cases involving animal abuse. She was also a board member of the
Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare at the University of Guelph. Dr. Richardson states:
“After reviewing the fur farm footage and images documenting the conditions of mink and fox on fur farms in
Canada, I have serious concerns regarding the animals' welfare. The conditions that these mink and foxes are
kept in are certainly inhumane and unacceptable. True humane conditions involve more than simply providing
food, water and basic shelter in order for an animal to survive – they involve ensuring animals are able to express
natural behaviors, given veterinary care and have their physiological needs met.”
Debi Zimmermann, DVM
Dr. Zimmermann graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 1988. In addition to her doctoral
degree, she holds a degree in biology with a specialization in zoology (University of Alberta). She is a member of
the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association, the Edmonton Small
Animal Veterinary Association and the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management. Dr. Zimmermann
writes:
“This footage clearly shows that Canadian farmed fox and mink can and do suffer significantly in numerous ways.
The current standards written into the Codes inadequately address animal welfare by denying opportunities for the
expression of natural behaviors by fox and mink. The idea that welfare is related to naturalness is implicit in the
scientific approach to using animal biology in understanding and evaluating animal welfare. That being said, we
need to consider if there will ever be a way to accommodate an essentially wild animal’s natural biology
sufficiently to be ethical and humane. Several European countries have found the answer to this question to be No,
and have banned fur farming altogether.”
Marc Bekoff, PhD
Marc Bekoff, Ph.D., is a former Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and
co-founder with Jane Goodall of Ethologists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. He has won many awards for his scientific
research including the Exemplar Award from the Animal Behavior Society and a Guggenheim Fellowship. Marc has written
more than 800 articles, numerous books, and has edited three encyclopedias. Marc's main areas of research include animal
behavior, cognitive ethology (the study of animal minds), behavioral ecology, and compassionate conservation.
“The animals depicted in this footage are unable to meet their basic physiological and psychological needs due to
the unacceptable restrictions of cage sizes and horrific conditions of their confinement. The toll it takes on their
emotional lives and physical well-being is immeasurable. It is shocking to know that current laws allow this to
happen every day in what is called a 'civilized' society.”
Olivier Berreville, PhD
Dr. Berreville holds a doctorate in biology from Dalhousie University. Having grown up around farmed animals in
Europe, he has also acquired field experience documenting the confinement, transportation and slaughter of
animals in Canada. He has presented on various aspects of farmed animal welfare at universities, institutes and
conferences. Dr. Berreville states:
“This random sample of conditions on Canadian fur farms raises significant animal welfare concerns regarding
generally accepted practices, and lack of oversight, within the Canadian fur industry. In all of these facilities,
animals were raised in filthy and completely unnatural conditions which cannot meet even the very basic
biological requirements of the animals. Moreover, the frequency of stereotypical behaviours and untreated, severe
injuries is alarming, indicating widespread psychological distress and suffering among animals raised on
Canadian fur farms.”
Mary Klinck, DMV, ACBV
Mary Klinck is a 2001 graduate of the Atlantic Veterinary College of the University of Prince Edward Island. She
has worked in veterinary practice with companion animals, large animals, and exotic animals. She is a Diplomate
of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, having done her residency in Veterinary Behavioral Medicine
at the University of Pennsylvania (2008). Currently, she is completing a PhD in Veterinary Science at the
Université de Montréal. Her contributions to animal welfare have included consultations with animal shelters on
maximising animal welfare and on behaviour problem management, consultation on modifications to legislation
concerning dog and cat welfare, participation in the establishment of welfare certification programs for dog and cat
breeders, and lecturing in the areas of Animal Behaviour, Animal Pain, Animal Welfare, and Veterinary Ethics.
“This video footage shows animals living in unacceptable conditions that do not support their physical wellbeing
(comfort, absence of pain or disease). Many of the buildings, enclosures, cages, and food and water bowls, are
filthy, often with extreme accumulations of faeces in or around the cages, and sometimes with such accumulations
in the water/food bowls. In addition, almost all cages had full wire floors, which do not permit a normal foot
posture and likely cause discomfort at best, and injury or lameness at worst. The conditions observable in the
videos also involve more subtle environmental problems, and evidence of their adverse effects on the mental
wellbeing of the animals. In general, the environments are barren. With the exception of hide or nest boxes, and
occasionally straw or the presence of other animals, there appears to be nothing done to provide the animals with
any choice with respect to their activities. Mink, in particular, are also kept in exceeding small cages, often too
small for the animal to stretch out fully (standing on the hind limbs or on all fours) without touching the tops and
sides of the cages. Where multiple animals are housed together (theoretically proving social enrichment), there is
inadequate space for them to avoid physical contact with each other, and in the videos of females with their
offspring, it appears that the mothers cannot remove themselves (even temporarily) from their kits.”
THE WELFARE OF ANIMALS KEPT FOR FUR PRODUCTION
Report of the Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare requested by the European Commission
on Health & Consumer Protection Directorate-General
“The typical mink cage with a next box and wire mesh floors impairs mink welfare because it does not provide for
important needs. Particular problems are limited locomotor and stimulatory possibilities, lack of opportunity to
climb, go into tunnels or swim, and inability to avoid social contact.” Conclusion 9.2.12 p.116
“The typical fox cage does not provide for the important needs of foxes. In particular, it imposes monotony of the
physical environment, restricts physical exercise and species-specific behavior such as digging. In relation to lack
of exercise, limb bones are significantly weaker than those of foxes kept in large cages where more exercise
occurs”. Conclusion 10.11 p.151