Burlington Coat Factory to withdraw real fur advertisment
13 Dec '06
3 min read
In the wake of an undercover investigation announced yesterday revealing that Burlington Coat Factory was selling real fur advertised as fake, Burlington has agreed to pull the offending advertisements from its stores nationwide and offered refunds to any consumers who may have inadvertently purchased the real fur garments. Burlington has also agreed to enter discussions with The Humane Society of the United States about the company's policy on real fur.
"We are pleased that Burlington Coat Factory is taking steps to remove its inaccurate advertisements," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS. "But The Humane Society of the United States is now asking Burlington to examine its entire policy of selling fur trim, given that fashionable and functional faux fur alternatives are readily available to the company. It's a matter of social responsibility and a concern for the welfare of animals."
The real fur jackets that were marketed by Burlington as "faux" contain internal labels stating that they are trimmed with "Racoon [sic] Fur of China Origin" or "Genuine Coyote Fur of China Origin." Due to the lack of animal welfare laws and prevalence of garment factories, China currently ranks as one of the leading exporters of fur and supplies half of all of the fur products that enter the United States for sale. Animals documented being raised and killed in China – often in barbaric ways – include dogs, cats, foxes, mink, and, of particular note, raccoon dogs, a species of canine whose fur resembles raccoon. Accordingly, The HSUS has commissioned DNA tests of the jackets, and expects to be able to determine within a week whether the coats are made of dog fur.
marketing@alchempro.com
