Animals in small cages, underfed and starving are all visions that most of us have seen. Cows that are being bred to produce unnaturally large amounts of milk. Sometimes they can’t even stand or walk properly because of all the extra weight. Other animals are fed steroids and large amounts of corn products that cause them to gain weight as quickly as possible. You won’t believe what we are about to share with you.
Arctic foxes in Finland are bred to produce the most fur possible with no regards to the innocent animals. From the photos shared by Oikeutta eläimille, a Finish animal welfare group, the foxes look extremely obese and unhealthy.
Kristo Muurimaa, communications officer for Oikeutta eläimille explains “Most people have seen the horrible conditions on fur farms, like the tiny, barren cages that the animals live in, but this was something new.” With over 900 fur farms in Finland, it’s a common practice to breed fox with rolls of skin. The extra skin makes the fur larger and more profitable.
The Foxes pay a high price for all of the extra rolls of skin. Muurimaa explains, “The first problem is the feet. Their feet can’t seem to bear the weight. In nature, an Arctic fox weighs 6 to 8 pounds and these animals weigh over 44 pounds. This causes deformities in their legs and causes difficulties in moving.”
Muurimaa further explains, “They have all the same health problems that obese people have.”
If you are reading this article, chances are you love animals and don’t like seeing this type of exploitation of the arctic fox. If you’d like to help, Muurimaa offers this advice, “People can give feedback to companies selling real fur.