Shaving bunnies

[hatsRme]

...I've always thought the shtreimel was an interesting exception. Perhaps these are more of an expression of love and devotion than modesty.

WOW! Definitely impressive, no matter how you look at them.

Now that I've caught up, (on the 1980's, and Devo) these seem reminiscent of early versions of the Power Domes of this week's discussion...

None in your collection yet, Alan?

 

[fedoracentric]

Getting back to the original question, for me, I don't understand why anyone would object to killing an animal and using its parts for human use. To abuse the privilege, of course, is abhorrent but to eschew the practice completely is something I am utterly unable to fathom. They are just animals, after all.

 

[TheDane]

Just talked to a field biologist who is an old friend of mine. He said that in theory you can shear a beaver naked, but it would be just as fatal as shearing a polar bear naked. It wouldn't die directly - but it probably wouldn't live till next sun-up either!

As the underfur is absolutely necessary for felting the fur for hats, and the beaver must be sheared naked, the claim that "no animals are hurt" is obviously not true. Hmmmm ... and I who thought "The Good Book" had a paragraph or two on that subject [huh]

I don't understand why anyone would object to killing an animal and using its parts for human use.

I don't either, as long as we speak of wild animals. The extreme "slimline" cages you often see in fur production plants is another matter. In my mind, that's not an approach one should expect to see in a civilized country. In my eyes it's humanly degrading to breed animals that way. I would much rather see fur-animals live a natural life and then get trapped or shot. If trapped it may take some time before they die, but I care less about that than to see them dressed in a tight fitting cage all their life. But that's just my two cents

 

[alanfgag]

They are just animals, after all.

To hit both of the last two posts with a single shtone... too exshtreime for me.

 

[bloc]

Just talked to a field biologist who is an old friend of mine. He said that in theory you can shear a beaver naked, but it would be just as fatal as shearing a polar bear naked. It wouldn't die directly - but it probably wouldn't live till next sun-up either!

As the underfur is absolutely necessary for felting the fur for hats, and the beaver must be sheared naked, the claim that "no animals are hurt" is obviously not true. Hmmmm ... and I who thought "The Good Book" had a paragraph or two on that subject [huh]



I don't either, as long as we speak of wild animals. The extreme "slimline" cages you often see in fur production plants is another matter. In my mind, that's not an approach one should expect to see in a civilized country. In my eyes it's humanly degrading to breed animals that way. I would much rather see fur-animals live a natural life and then get trapped or shot. If trapped it may take some time before they die, but I care less about that than to see them dressed in a tight fitting cage all their life. But that's just my two cents

I agree. I don't have a problem with animals being killed for food or fur or other products we use every day. I do have a problem with intensive farming and try to avoid supporting the practice as far as possible by buying free range meat and eggs etc.

I've been thinking a lot about the felt issue and I think I will try to use only fur from wild animals. So beaver will be fine but I will have to steer clear of rabbit although I have emailed my felt supplier about wild rabbit. I'm waiting to see if they can supply that. Lots of wild rabbits killed routinely in Australia by the sound of it. Then, of course there's fur miles to consider.

Modern life is complicated and I try to listen to my conscience and do the best I can. But a girl can only do so much....

 

[bloc]

I'm thinking that the sheep's leather I have sourced is ethical. Sheep just roam around don't they? They do round here..

 

[KingAndrew]

Ole-

I LOVE the names of your (daughter's) pet rats. I also think that the really hairy wild specimens would probably make better felt than the white short-haired varieties I see in pet shops.

And your point about nutria is well taken. It's amazing how many pests (nutria, muskrat, Australian rabbits) we've managed to introduce around the world when our "livestock" escapes to become "wildlife."