Animals Skinned Alive for Faux ‘UGGs’

Just when you thought that footwear involving the mutilation of millions of sheep couldn’t get any ugglier, several makers of knock-off UGG-style boots have been found to use fur from animals who were beaten and skinned alive. Tests conducted on products labeled as “Australian sheepskin” found that they were actually made of raccoon dog fur, most likely from animals confined to barbaric Chinese fur farms.

Raccoon dogs are confined to row upon row of tiny wire cages that are exposed to the elements. Many of the animals go insane from the intensive confinement. Undercover video footage shows raccoon dogs as they are dragged from cages and slammed repeatedly to the ground before being skinned while still conscious. Some survive for as long as 10 minutes, blinking in pain on a pile of other bodies.

The tests also found that some boots contained domestic dog fur, which made it into Australia despite the country’s ban on dog and cat fur.

Since you never can be sure whose fur ends up on your boots, coat, or gloves, the best thing to do is avoid all fur.

Written by Heather Faraid Drennan