People who exploit animals for profit or entertainment should know that animal rights protests come with the territory and are a cost of doing business. But instead arguing their point of view, exploiters often resort to vulgar personal attacks that validate the very argument that the activists are making — that they are abusive people.

Horse-drawn carriage driver in New York City

Personal attacks are quite common, but they’re rarely caught on camera. The few incidents that have been captured show the true colors of people who gratuitously exploit and abuse animals:

Fur vendor says, “Drop dead, you faggot. Get AIDS and die.”

Horse-drawn carriage driver says to Latina protesters, “What a whore you are. Are you a married woman with children, or are you barren? This one might have six or seven kids because, you know . . .”

A rodeo supporter in Canada says to a protester, “I like the color you are because it comes out of my ass. I will fucking blow your country up, you fucking shit-skinned goof.”

https://youtu.be/BXss9yuwZRQ

A horse-drawn carriage drivers says, “You are one of those faggots. I’m not into guys, man. I don’t fuck guys.”

In the early 1990s, the Ku Klux Klan conducted membership drives at pigeon shooting events. In a video highlighting some of the violent attacks against them, the animal rights group SHARK noted that “the kind of people who shoot pigeons tossed out of boxes are the perfect candidates for those hate organizations.”

KKK at pigeon shooting event

Perhaps some animal exploiters employ personal attacks because they can’t argue on the merits of the issue. Activists, on the other hand, have the truth on our side. We should therefore stick to the issue and avoid the temptation to fight back with personal attacks in the heat of the moment.

In September, animal rights activists liberated 80 foxes from their small, wire cages at a fur farm in Poland. After, they issued the following statement: “The animals have escaped a cruel death, which inevitably would have awaited them at the hands of the farmer. Take matters into your own hands!”

On fur farms, animals are held captive in small cages, where they go insane from immobility, boredom and the inability to do anything that comes naturally to them.

Life in a wire mesh cage

And, after a life of utter misery, they are gassed, anally electrocuted or skinned alive.

Wild animals captured for fur are caught in steel leg hold traps, medieval torture devices that hold them hostage until they die or are collected by the trapper.

Steel leg hold trap

Given the extreme cruelty to which fur-bearing animals are subjected, it’s no wonder why activists around the world sacrifice their freedom and safety to liberate them and why so many rejoice when an animal trapper gets caught in his own trap:

Please sign the Change.org petition to ban fur farming in the European Union.

Hundreds of readers took the time to post comments on the article “What Should We Say to People Wearing Fur?” This post summarizes the feedback – in case it’s useful, inspiring or, at the very least, interesting.

The suggestions varied widely, but most could be filed under one of two approaches: measured or confrontational. Each approach has its merits, though some snarky one liners like “Bitch” or “Fur hag” probably do less to help the animals than to satisfy us in the moment.

Among the measured suggestions that were shared more than once are the following:

“Thank you for wearing fake fur.” (even if it’s real)

“Fur looks most beautiful on its original owner.”

“Is that fur real? Do you know where it comes from?” (This question opens up the possibility for a dialog.)

The confrontational suggestions were more varied. Following are a couple of standouts:

“Do you know how many innocent animals had to die so you could wear that?”

“How can you stand the cries of the tortured animals?”

“Do you know your coat was made by skinning the animals while they were still alive?”

Khloe Kardashian’s approach to protesting fur

Several readers who may or may not be activists said, “Don’t say anything. It’s none of your business.” One reader wrote, “If the person is older than 70, leave her alone.”

Others, who clearly are activists, suggested a menacing approach: “They should be followed and yelled at so that they feel unsafe wearing the skins of tortured animals.” Another reader suggested action, albeit unrealistic, instead of words: “Tie them down and force them to watch videos of  animals being tortured.”

A few readers expressed discomfort with fake fur alternatives on the grounds that “it still makes the fashion more popular” or “it glamorizes the idea of wearing an animal.”

The “I am an asshole. I wear fur” stickers mentioned in the article received a mixed response. A few readers asked where they could get them. Another reader, however, had a visceral reaction and, ironically, gave the kind of combative response that she herself opposes:

When it comes to fur, passions run high – higher than they do on most other animal rights issues. Perhaps that can be attributed to the fact that fur is so gratuitous. As activists say – or shout – at the protests, “Stop the insanity. No blood for vanity.”

During the winter of 2014, fur was everywhere, which made a bad winter even worse for people who care about animals. In urban areas, activists could easily cross paths with hundreds of fur wearers each day – leaving some of us feeling frustrated, helpless and hopeless.

So what do we say, if anything, to people wearing fur in 2015? Does saying nothing and turning a blind eye make us complicit? Author Jonathan Safran Foer once stated, “Not responding is a response – we are equally responsible for what we don’t do.”

But what is the most effective approach with fur wearers? Starting a dialog by asking if the fur is real? Shaming them with the hope that they’ll be skittish about wearing fur in the future? Any discomfort experienced by the people we address pales in comparison to the agony experienced by the animals who they are wearing.

Photo by Emily McCoy

I use several different approaches with the hope that one will emerge as the most effective. When I say, “I love your coat! I hate animals too,” some people respond by laughing nervously. One woman asked if I was being “nasty,” which opened the door to a dialog. She said she “couldn’t argue” with my points but that she also couldn’t give up her “vintage” fur. In the end, I used flattery with her in an attempt to effect change: “I’m sorry, ma’am, but a glamorous woman like you wearing fur encourages others to do the same.” (P.S. Nothing about her was glamorous).

Sometimes I say, “OH MY GOD. Your coat looks just like my dog” with a nonjudgmental, matter of fact tone. Invariably, people respond with a terrified “No” as if I actually thought that they were wearing my dog. By referencing a dog, my hope is to help people connect the dots between companion animals and those used for fur.

Last winter, I placed a few “I am an asshole. I wear fur” stickers on people after “accidentally” stumbling and falling into them. “I’m so sorry! I must have tripped on something.”  I need to get more of those.

PETA, which is still regarded by some as the red paint throwers, suggests a polite approach that could trigger a conversation. They’ve even created an instructional video:

What do you do, and do you think it’s effective?

In a statement to Vogue denying that it buys rabbit fur from the factory farms exposed in a new undercover video, fashion giant Burberry says it “will not use fur if there is concern that its production has involved the unacceptable treatment of animals.” Intense confinement and anal electrocution are standard practices in the fur industry. Is either “acceptable” to Burberry?

photo: 2dayblog.com

To make matters worse, Burberry’s use of the phrase “all natural” in defending its use of fur, but “natural” fur is exactly what we are trying to eliminate! Did Burberry think the word “natural” would appease its critics who are advocating for fake fur?

Burberry executives and other fashion houses that use fur are either unaware of the atrocities or are turning a blind eye for the sake of profits. It’s no wonder activists have to jump onto the runway during fashion shows to get their attention.

Please visit endfahsioncruelty.org to take action on behalf of fur bearing animals.