MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Legislature considers bill to ban fur farms, production, sale in Washington

Jan 14, 2022, 5:09 PM | Updated: Jan 15, 2022, 8:01 am

Mink, fur farming...

(Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

A bill in the state House of Representatives would outlaw the farming of foxes, minks, and other animals for fur in Washington.

If House Bill 1718 passes, the production and sale of fox, mink, marten, and chinchilla fur would be illegal, beginning next year. Each violation would be considered a misdemeanor.

Exceptions would be made for religious and tribal purposes, as well as products made from used fur.

Those in favor of the bill say it is needed to stop an industry centered on the inhumane treatment of animals.

Bills to protect salmon, orcas to take center stage this session

“Everything about fur farming is rooted in animal cruelty — from the breeding process to a brutal death, an animal’s entire life is spent in a cage,” said Hannah Thompson-Garner, director of policy and legislative affairs with the Northwest Animal Rights Network, during a hearing for the bill this week.

Wendy Linton, another commenter, said the minks and foxes spend their lives trapped in small cages that hurt their paws.

“Fashion is a terrible excuse for animal exploitation,” Linton said.

Proponents of the bill also pointed out that fur farming can lead to the spread of zoonotic pandemics. COVID-19 has spread on fur farms.

“These farms are a public health threat,” Linton said.

Those against the bill said it was a violation of individual liberty, claiming that the government would be telling people what they could and could not wear.

“We should not go down this slippery road of inserting the government into people’s closets,” said Mike Brown, head of sustainability and communications with the Natural Fibers Alliance.

He worried that the fur ban could lead to bans on other animal products like leather, and even products that do not require killing the animal, such as wool.

Other opponents, like Challis Hobbs, said stopping the industry would be a hardship for fur farmers.

“This bill does create more stress and mental health issues for small, family-owned farms,” said Hobbs, director of Fur Commission USA.

That is why some of the bill’s supporters are asking for an addition to the bill that would provide government subsidies for farmers to help them transition out of fur farming.

The bill is currently sitting in the House Committee on Rural Development, Agriculture & Natural Resources. To be passed this session, bills must pass out of committee by Feb. 7.

MyNorthwest News

Photo: The 2024 spring clearing of Chinook Pass....

Nate Connors

Snowfall forces early closure of Chinook Pass for the season

Travelers have one less option for cross-state travel with the seasonal closure of State Route 410 Chinook Pass over Mount Rainier.

12 hours ago

Image: A map of Snohomish County power outages as of 3:15 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 can be seen ...

Steve Coogan

Winds lead to power outages impacting thousands in Western Washington

Crews with Snohomish PUD and Puget Sound Energy have been working to restore power all over Western Washington.

14 hours ago

Image: IAM District 751 president Jon Holden greets union members after announcing they voted to ac...

Steve Coogan

Machinist union votes to accept Boeing offer, end strike

The Boeing machinist union strike ended Monday night after 59% of workers who cast votes decided accept the company's latest offer.

15 hours ago

Pierce County deputies respond to vehicle in a ditch near Puyallup, following a South Hill shooting...

James Lynch

Shooting near house party in South Hill kills 1, injures 3

One person was killed and three others were injured in multiple overnight shootings in Puyallup, according to the Pierce County Sheriff's Office.

15 hours ago

Viewers gather to watch a debate between Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harr...

Bill Kaczaraba

MSNBC analyst: We could know who is the next president on Tuesday night

MSNBC political analyst Jason Johnson says we might know who the next president is on Tuesday night because of the white female vote.

15 hours ago

Remote work...

Bill Kaczaraba

MyNW poll results: Many would consider making less money to work remotely more

In an unscientific poll on MyNorthwest, 1,200 people gave us their thoughts on making less money for remote work.

18 hours ago

Legislature considers bill to ban fur farms, production, sale in Washington