PUMA Receives PETA Award After Banning Fur, Exotic Skins

Sports Apparel Giant's Compassionate Decision Helps Take a Bite out of Cruelty to Animals, Including Rabbits, Crocodiles, and Sheep

For Immediate Release:
March 30, 2012

Contact:
Adam Miller 202-483-7382

Westford, Mass. — Following discussions with PETA, PUMA, one of the world's largest designers and developers of sports footwear, apparel, and accessories, has pledged never to use fur, wool that comes from sheep in Australia who've been mutilated in a procedure called "mulesing," or exotic-animal skins, including from crocodiles, snakes, sharks, and fish. PUMA's decision has garnered the company a Compassionate Retailer Award from PETA.

"Every snakeskin shoe or piece of fur trim comes with a high price—and it's paid by animals who are driven mad in cages on fur farms or nailed to trees and skinned alive," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "When a company of PUMA's prestige takes a tough stance against animal abuse, the entire industry and other businesses worldwide sit up and take notice."

Animals trapped for fur often suffer for days before they are bludgeoned or stomped to death. Animals raised for fur often go mad inside cramped, filthy cages before they are poisoned or anally electrocuted. In China—the world's leading fur exporter—animals who are killed for their fur, including millions of cats and dogs, are often skinned alive.

Exotic animals—including snakes, lizards, alligators, and crocodiles—are hunted or raised and killed specifically for their skins. Snakes are commonly nailed to trees or posts and skinned alive. Alligators on factory farms are crammed into small spaces and then beaten to death with hammers or axes.

In "mulesing," large chunks of skin and flesh are cut from lambs' backsides with tools resembling gardening shears in a crude attempt to prevent maggot infestation, even though effective and more humane methods are available.

The PUMA Group owns the brands PUMA, Cobra Golf, and Tretorn. The company distributes its products in more than 120 countries and employs more than 11,000 people worldwide.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.