Costumed Activists Promote Cruelty-Free Shopping
For Immediate Release:
May 16, 2012
Contact:
Shakira Croce 202-483-7382
Albany, N.Y. -- Armed with signs that read, "Please Don't Steal Our Skin—Shop Cruelty-Free" and a video showing Tim Gunn's exposé of the animal-skins industry, a "fox," "cow," and "sheep" will lead a contingent of PETA members in downtown Albany on Thursday. They will call on shoppers to leave fur, leather, exotic skins, and wool off their shopping lists.
When: Thursday, May 17, 12 noon
Where: Northwest corner of S. Pearl and Howard streets, Albany
"PETA wants everyone to know that no matter how much you paid for a leather jacket or a wool sweater, the animals paid a lot more," says PETA's Katie Arth. "With all the luxurious, cruelty-free fabrics on the market today, it's never been easier to leave animals' skins where they belong—on their original owners."
Animals who are killed for their fur are electrocuted, poisoned, or gassed or have their necks broken. Cows destined to be killed for leather endure painful mutilations and physical abuse on factory farms and cruel treatment during transport and slaughter. Sheep used for wool production often have huge chunks of skin and flesh cut from their backsides in a crude attempt to prevent maggot infestation. And exotic animals fare no better: Snakes, for example, have hoses rammed into their mouths and are pumped full of water so that workers can more easily cut off their tightened skin while the animals are still alive.
For more information, please visit PETA.org.