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In the early hours of Wednesday morning, thousands of mink were released from their cages at a Canadian fur farm. The liberation was likely conducted by activists in response to a widely publicized story about the grisly conditions on the farm. The Montreal SPCA, which conducted the investigation that led to the story, said that the dehydrated, thin and sick animals, some of whom had open wounds, were “living in hell.”

Photo: Montreal SPCA

Those who criticize activists for conducting liberations say that the newly-freed animals who manage to escape into nearby areas cannot survive after living in captivity. Even if that is true, a few hours or days of freedom is far better than a lifetime of intensive confinement and abuse followed by death by anal electrocution, gassing or neck-breaking. Learn more about fur farming and join the fight to end it.

According to Montreal’s SPCA, which discovered horrific conditions during a fur farm inspection, the Quebec government is “not doing enough to protect dozens of foxes and hundreds of mink kept in inhumane conditions.” A wildlife veterinarian who accompanied the SPCA said, “Dehydration was evident in all 91 foxes. Emaciation or starvation was present in many of the animals. There were a variety of injuries from broken toes, to a broken leg, to a missing eye, lesions on the tails.” The Forest Ministry did seize 16 arctic foxes due to lack of paperwork and did euthanize four foxes and one mink because they were too sick to survive. However, they left the remaining animals in their cages “to give the owner a chance to correct the situation.”

Being held captive for life in a small wire cage is torture in and of itself. But to be deprived of food, water and medical care on top of that? If the Forest Ministry found dogs and cats in these conditions, the perpetrators would be undoubtedly be charged with animal cruelty. The laws must be strengthened to protect all animals, not just the companion animals who bring us pleasure. Fur is among the most egregious forms of animal cruelty. And for what? A coat? We must put ourselves in the skin of these animals and imagine stress, frustration, pain and suffering they endure every day of their lives leading up to that fateful moment when they are anally electrocuted, gassed or skinned alive. And we must be their voice.