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MM promotes positive activism, not AR extremism, see: Correcting Misconceptions and Defining Terms

PART TWO

CbC is an advocacy message of MM. The views and opinions expressed here are that of MM leadership and are not necessarily the views and opinions of others associated with or assisting in MM projects. CbC, PART TWO (this page): *Pet-Friendly Resources (organizations; forums and chat rooms; books, magazines, reference libraries, sites) *Correcting Misconceptions (stereotyping, "pelting neutral," sidetracking fallacies, past knowledge for today's pets) *The Chinchilla Fur Industry (news, market report: chinchilla industry council, news from croatia, hsus on fur farming) *Killing Methods (avma recommendation, electrocution, cervical dislocation) CbC, PART ONE: *CbC: intro, 1 (pelter clubs), 2 (facts of pelting today), 3 (homing ranchies, vivisection) 4 (quality of life, fur farms) *VIEW THE FACTS! Pelting is NOT necessary OR profitable! Ranchers agree, let's be FUR FREE! CbC, PART THREE: *Positive Activism In Action (fur-free sites: take action and research information, lobbying & letter writing) *Defining (animal rights, activism, extremism, passive resistance, fur-free, pro-pet, respect vs. tolerance) *Euthanasia: What It Is and What It Is Not *Laws Advancing a Fur-Free Future *Fur: Not "Natural" or "Eco-Friendly" PET-FRIENDLY RESOURCES (organizations; forums and chat rooms; books, magazines, reference libraries, sites) Pet-friendly resources as we define it may be pro-pet or fur-free, in any case they are the preferred source of information for chinparents because having chinchillas as pets for their entire lifetime requires pet-friendly resources that are focused on addressing the particular issues associated with keeping a chinchilla as a PET. Be aware that some pet clubs and forums are dominated by people that regard chinchillas as livestock, not pets, and that negatively impacts their care advice. See article for details. ORGANIZATIONS Fur-free chinchilla organizations include: Chin Knights, Rodela Chinchilla, and the National Chinchilla Society (UK, accepts overseas memberships) All other organizations in the pet chinchilla community that we are aware of are simply pro-pet, that is, they do not take a fur-free stand, some even promote pelter club schedules and events. Both pro-pet and fur-free chinchilla organizations, their shows and events, can provide guidance and support, pet community activities, learning opportunities, interaction with other chinparents, and access to informative online reference libraries and magazines. FORUMS AND CHAT ROOMS Get personalized answers and advice from pro-pet forums and chat rooms. Currently, forums with a fur-free perspective are based in the UK, where fur farming is illegal. Like all online forums they welcome members internationally, and we recommend these because their atmosphere and level of expertise are exceptional: Chinwags, Chinchilla World and Chinchillas Unlimited. BOOKS, MAGAZINES, REFERENCE LIBRARIES AND PET CHINCHILLA CARE SITES Search topsites lists for pet chinchilla care sites; research books, magazines and reference libraries for pet chinchilla care information; browse ChinCare for insight into pet chinchilla topics such as: nutrition requirements, adequate housing, grooming, exercise, preventative health measures, senior chins, chins in the wild, neutering, relating and bonding, introducing chins, genetics and breeding, exotics specialist vet resources and rescue services. Learn how you can act in the best interests of you chinchilla by reading ChinCare's Setting Standards for Responsible Pet Chinchilla Breeding, Ownership and Neutering page and the Site Safety and Need to Know Index. We do not object to information deriving from ranchers (such as that found in some older books) WHEN it's appropriate and applicable for pets. It is entirely reasonable to leave pelting in the past while keeping the knowledge gained (and paid for with chinchilla lives) for the betterment of PET chinchillas today. Britain's National Chinchilla Society accepts overseas memberships and they publish a bi-monthly gazette that includes: "informative articles on Chinchilla keeping, breeding, health and showing from various points of view. Also included are handy tips, helpful hints and a regular news and chit-chat column, plus lots of other items that go towards producing an unsurpassed wealth of knowledge about the Chinchilla." CORRECTING MISCONCEPTIONS (fallacies of AR stereotyping, "pelting neutral," sidetracking fallacies, past knowledge for today's pets) Also see: Twelve Arguments Against Animals by NYC Animal Rights THE FALLACIES OF AR STEREOTYPING (ref- .doc, about the Logical Fallacies) People often assign extremist attitudes to anyone who takes action that benefits animals. This is why positive activists are misunderstood, maligned, labelled hypocritical and so forth, even when the labelling doesn't fit. "If you object to pelting, you must hate ranchers who pelt." Wrong. You CAN appreciate and associate with people who don't share your convictions; intelligent, mature people coexist and respect differences in others every day. We work with ranchers to end pelting, no hate required, that's a waste of time and energy. Hate is negative, it saps energy and it takes a LOT of positive energy for activists to keep going in the face of opposition from some people who are still ignorant or fearful of positive change. "If you oppose pelting, then you must think that all pet owners are above reproach." For several years now the webmasters have been personally involved with pet chinchilla rescue and rehoming, addressing the physical and psychological rehabilitation of those that have been unwanted, neglected, abandoned or abused. So no, we do not give carte blanche approval to the pet community or anyone, for that matter. It is useful to bear in mind that not all pet owners, breeders and pet shops are abusive, while all pelters do kill; this explains why the usual focus for reform points in their direction, it's not scapegoating. Blame, like hate, is a waste. We need to utilize CbC and be forward-thinking and positive in our motivations and actions, that's the best way to help chinchillas live and thrive in captivity. "Anyone who opposes pelting must necessarily: become vegan or judge others who wear leather, hunt, fish or eat meat; support all "bleeding heart" liberal views and opinions; become anti-social, intolerant or violent; burn barns with live animals in them or turn captive animals out into the wild; say "better dead than bred"; blindly believe that all pet owners are above reproach; vote "straight-ticket" in support of ALL animal rights issues..." GAG. This absurd stereotype is SO stale (circa 1980's!), so transparently manipulative of others' most idiotic, irrational fears, and obviously meant to deter people from taking fur-free action. These characteristics are applied by utilitarian ("animals are only as good as their usefulness to man") extremists who readily resort to unfounded lies to scare people into supporting their opinions. It's simply amazing that there are still folks who fall for this ruse and consequently conclude that anyone who doesn't want their pets victimized by the fur industry fits this malevolent stereotype. If you don't personally identify with or espouse a stereotype, then it's the people who judge you that are mistaken; choose how you want to help animals and ignore the losers who try to discourage you! "PELTING NEUTRAL" To be pro-pet with regards to chinchillas is to support the health and happiness of the live animal as a pet. To be pro-pelt is to support their death for the manufacture of luxury items. "Dead" is an absolute state, it is mutually exclusive with "alive." A chinchilla ultimately gets one fate or the other, this is one situation where people must protect them as valued pets or they will die, unnecessarily. Even people who cop-out with, "I don't want to get involved," "I don't care" or, "I'm pelting-neutral" are STILL choosing, they ARE taking a side. Like it or not, their passivity, apathy or cowardice is silent support for the status quo, which in this case allows pelting to continue. We, and the pet community at large, have witnessed that whenever the "pelting neutral" policy has been enacted on forums it's served as a wild card for pro-pelting advocates in the pet community, i.e., some pelter club members who are moderators or administrators, even forum owners. They "enforce policy" when it's in their particular interests to silence or discredit anyone who speaks up on behalf of the chinchillas by: making speeches in defense of pelting, contributing to threads that bash fur-free advocates (and then locking the thread or banning the person being bashed so they can't reply in their own defense) and allowing items made from chinchilla fur to be advertised or raffled off from their forum. Neutral?!? Don't think so. SIDETRACKING FALLACIES (ref- .doc, about the Logical Fallacies) Why, "sidetracking fallacies"? Because these are the typical diversionary quips of an illogical nature that people evoke out of ignorance or fear of facts: pelting today is completely unnecessary, it inflicts a premature and painful death on animals that should be protected as pets. The pelter is "nice"... We have met with ranchers from both ECBC and MCBA and adopted chinchillas and bought supplies from them. We'd be lying if we said that they were demons in overalls. That's an AR extremist tactic that distorts the truth, which is that the overwhelming majority of ranchers got into fur farming as a money-making venture at a time when there was no substantial ethical objection to it in our society; in other words, they didn't get into ranching to pursue a recreational love of killing. Extremists would say that sounds like an excuse for pelting but it's not, it's just frank talk about ranchers. Pelting is not good or bad, justifiable or unjustifiable depending on whether the pelter is nice or not. Pelting is, quite simply, unnecessary killing and as such it is not excusable on any grounds. Opposing pelting is NOT inextricably linked to hating ranchers, extremists made up that connection because their real focus is on hating and bullying people, not on working with them to find solutions that would save chinchillas from pelting. If only extremists hated pelting as much as they do people, perhaps they'd accomplish something more than making lots of empty, angry noise. We have heard from several pet breeders, members of pelter clubs, who were so ingratiatingly grateful that a rancher went out of his way to advise or help them that they concluded right then and there that pelting is ok. Those people aren't doing ranchers any favors by defending pelting now that it is no longer profitable to ranchers, but is seems, unfortunately, that some cowards will use anything to justify or defend what they haven't the courage to challenge and change. Isn't fur farming the same thing as hunting animals for their fur? Fur "farming" or chinchilla "ranching" today is an entirely separate matter from what went on in early history. When native South American tribes hunted the chinchilla before the arrival of the Spaniards (whose ruthless hunting in the pursuit of making vanity items for the European market nearly led to the chinchilla's extinction), they only hunted to the extent needed to provide themselves with food and warmth. The chinchillas they hunted had the advantage of living free in their natural environment and were potentially able to escape, to run and hide from man, who was effectively just another predator in the wild. By contrast, fur "farming" imposes an entirely artificial, freedomless environment on an animal that has no opportunity to lead the life that nature intended. A chinchilla on a pelting ranch cannot make even the simplest choices about his own existence or fate, has no herd companionship or opportunity to run free, and those regarded as at-risk are completely powerless victims with no hope of escaping their dismal end. The "God-given right to dominion over the animals"... Sure the Bible says God gave animals to man, in Genesis 9, 1-2. But where does it say, "Be careless and abusive, exploit them to your heart's content in frivolous, cruel and irresponsible ways!" It doesn't, and anyone who would pervert the Bible as an excuse for needless killing is a menace to all life on Earth. We believe that when animals are used by man for food and clothing (furs are not essential to modern man), that those animals deserve the best treatment, which entails living conditions that approximate the benefits they would have had in the wild: the right diet, plenty of exercise, companionship and freedom. Their death should be quick and painless. We believe this approach complies with the intent of Genesis 9. The circumstances surrounding pelting violate those principles point-by-point: chinchillas on pelting ranches suffer from severe confinement, lack of exercise, affection and herd companionship, that violates their basic needs. Pelting itself is completely non-essential to man. The two primary killing methods used by pelting ranches are inhumane and painful, see for yourself, and they don't comply with AVMA recommendations. Don't forget that the Bible also says: "The just man takes care of his beast, but the heart of the wicked is merciless." (Proverbs 12:10) And we believe this precept applies to non-human creatures as well: “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matthew 25:40) Ranchers are just "old-school farmers," they "can't change," "don't know how," or "aren't able" to make the switch from dealing in pets rather than pelts... Well, let's say these "old" pelting ranchers are in their fifties. That would still mean that they were born after the pioneer days, after the industrial revolution and after the shift in America from a primarily rural to a primarily urban society. Growing up post-WWII, they had access to an unprecedented abundance of economic prosperity, burgeoning technological advancements and educational opportunities, in those days university financial aid grants (as opposed to loans) were far easier to come by and well-paying white collar jobs could be still be had even without a college degree. Providing pelts for the chinchilla fur industry was a choice, not an economic necessity and the excuse that ranchers can't adapt is ignorant of the fact that they already HAVE; as one large-scale rancher put it, "I don't know of anybody who is just a pelting ranch, not one rancher I know can exist just on pelts." (ref- chins-n-quills.com, a chinchilla forum) There you go, now it's up to those of us who care in the pet community to work with ranchers for a fur-free future. We "owe" the fur trade or MF Chapman for the pleasure of having chinchillas as pets today. The MF Chapman story put out by the fur industry is a hoax. The fur industry may have introduced chinchillas throughout the world, but that does not entitle them to dictate the future of chinchillas or to dominate and control the pet community. Chinchillas should not continue to be killed for the manufacture of luxury items now that they have become accepted and valued as pets, and especially now that ranchers in the U.S. no longer profit from that needless killing. It's time to move forward, Britain already has and the U.S. passed PL106-476 in 2000, which demonstrates that Americans do not want their PETS exploited by the fur industry, that and CbC are a positive step in the right direction. The facilities are "spotless"... Cleanliness is definitely preferable to filth and squalor, but no matter how clean the environment (preventing a disease epidemic and subsequent loss of investment is what drives the level of cleanliness, it's not for the sake of the animals' enjoyment), the pelters still kill and the chinchillas still die. A condemned man wouldn't turn down a full pardon for a posh suite on death row, we need to protect chinchillas from pelting entirely, not make irrelevant excuses for it. The chinchillas are "euthanized"... Electrocution and cervical dislocation are the primary killing methods used by ranchers, in opposition to AVMA recommendations. Those killing methods are not "euthansia" because euthanasia is mercy-killing for terminally sick and suffering animals, but chinchillas are pelted when their coats come into "prime," they are YOUNG, HEALTHY, they want to LIVE. This is pelting, and despite the investigation source what's there is not propaganda, it's real, so decide for yourself if this looks like "euthanasia"! PAST KNOWLEDGE FOR TODAY'S PETS MM acknowledges that ranchers have made contributions in the areas of chinchilla breeding and basic care. Discarding pelting does not need to involve disassociating ourselves from the knowledge accumulated by the fur industry and its associates over the years when they exploited chinchillas for commercial gain; that information has been paid for with chinchilla lives and they're entitled to benefit from it today, as pets! Britain has made the break already, pelting is illegal there and the pet chinchilla community thrives because they kept the good (research, information, etc.) and left the bad (pelting) behind. So can we. THE CHINCHILLA FUR INDUSTRY (news, market report: chinchilla industry council, chinchilla ranching news from croatia, humane society on fur farming) Also see: "Laws Advancing A Fur-Free Future" and information on the unprofitability of pelting in the U.S. today NEWS (FUR IS NOT "ON ITS WAY OUT") Hundreds of thousands of chinchillas are slaughtered on fur farms every year in the U.S., Europe, Canada, and South America, see photo taken in Argentina in 2006. It takes approximately 100 chinchilla skins to make a medium-length jacket and twice that to make a full-length coat. Fur, including chinchilla fur, will not simply "fade away" from the catwalks of the world of its own accord, as the following paragraphs of educational material prove. The fur industry is wise to how to handle the issues that animal rights advocates have brought to the attention of the public, the ecological concerns and the treatment of fur-farmed animals. From their public relations research they've discovered that all they need to do is appear willing to discuss these issues and that puts them in a trustworthy light until they can discredit or gloss over things with a little biased propaganda that lures the public into a happy stupor. For example: "The fur industry has conducted extensive research on public attitudes toward the use of fur. This research indicates that most fur users have relatively high comfort levels with the farm-raised product when information is provided about humane care methods." (ref- J. E. Oldfield, Professor Emeritus Department of Animal Sciences, Oregon State University) Note by MM: this article reflects some ommissions and manipulation of facts in favor of the fur industry. What people hear from the fur industry about ecological concerns and the treatment of fur-farmed animals is precisely what the fur industry wants them to believe. However, the fact remains that fur is non-essential to humans and the fur industry is promoting senseless killing for sheer vanity, those behind this scheme are not above employing deception to conceal the truth and protect their investment. While MM's focus is on saving U.S. ranch chinchillas from an unnecessary demise, we encourage others to join us in having a say about the slaughter of chinchillas and other fur-bearing animals worldwide, who are also being victimized. To make a positive difference, see: Positive Activism in Action. Chinimation's Chin-ber of Horrors: photos of real chinchilla fur products A.A.C.CH (.doc): About the Argentinian chinchilla fur trade Mercy For Animals: Fur Farms Resurgence of fur fashion discussed in: Looking Glass Article -and- "The One That (Almost) Got Away... Why the Fur Trade is Coming Back and What We Can Do About It" (.doc) IFTF, Fur Style and Peter Palms: current trends demonstrate that chinchillas are still actively exploited for their fur "Demand for chinchilla pelts has increased since 1994, when fashion began to dictate chinchilla trims, often dyed different colors, on cashmere coats, according to Nat Berkowitz of Miller & Berkowitz Ltd., the largest maker of chinchilla garments in the United States. Pelt prices have climbed over 100% since then as a result. The number of chinchilla pelts available internationally is loosely equivalent to the number of sable pelts, but chinchilla pelts are smaller. A coat requires about 130 skins. Pelt prices range from an average of $85 for a standard type skin (including dressing and brightener added) but go 30% higher for the more prestigious Black Velvet label." (ref- furs.com, "Sable Streak: Redefining Luxury Furs for the 90's" by Lisa Marcinek) Note by MM: Since the mid 1990's, high production costs and a market demand for cheaper pelts for fur trim have made pelting unprofitable in the U.S. That trend continues in this country while underdeveloped countries continue to pelt at a profit, see article. "In Brazil, the breeding of chinchillas has demonstrated improved quality and achieved a strong market position. The State of Rio Grande do Sul, in southern Brazil, has 200 commercial breeders." (ref- 2005 article, "Protozoan parasites in captive chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera) raised in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil" by Ana Claudia Fagundes Gurgel, Amanda Dos Santos Sartori, Flavio Antonio Pacheco De Araujo in Scientific Electronic Library Online, Chile) Chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera) Originated in South America but now totally protected in the wild. It is farmed in North and South America and Europe. Very soft and silky and mainly grey, some black, white or beige-white natural colours. Used mainly for small articles and trimming but also for full-length garments. (ref- British Fur Trade Association website, 2007) "For this year the 2006 all analysts on the subject present/display to Argentina like one of the greater world-wide producers of skins of chinchillas with a production near the 90,000 skins per year. Along with Argentina and Brazil (of a fast growth also) are in the head of the world-wide production countries of Eastern Europe like the Croatia, Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary. In no of these cases (either in Brazil) the quality is obtained that we have in Argentina. Nevertheless if there is a quality top in countries like USA., Canada, Finland etc. etc." (ref- .doc online translation, A.A.C.CH) "If we eschew dog and cat fur, but buy mink, chinchilla, or other types of fur, wouldn't we essentially be saying, 'It is wrong to slaughter dogs and cats since we are familiar with them. We have opened our hearts to them. Yet it is right to slaughter minks and chinchillas since we are not familiar with them. We have not opened our hearts to them.' ...Croatia has one of the best run animal welfare groups in Eastern Europe, but the country is also the world's largest exporter of Chinchilla fur." (ref- Looking Glass: Think About Fur, The Campaigners) "The world production of fox skins is over 4.5 million skins, with Finland as the largest producer, followed by China, Norway, Russia and Poland. Denmark produces around 20,000 fox skins and almost 30,000 chinchilla skins." (ref- Kopenhagen Fur) "Chinchilla farming has become more popular recently. Estonians have bred chinchillas for over ten years. In April 1994, the first non-profit organisation, the Estonian Chinchilla Breeders’ Union was established. The latter has split into the Chinchilla Breeders’ Society of Southern Estonia and the Estonian Chinchilla Association. At present [2003], there are 120 chinchilla breeders keeping 3,500 animals in Estonia." (ref- .pdf) "In December 2001, the European Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Wefare published a report (.pdf) on the welfare of animals kept for fur production. This report examines the conditions under which mink, ferrets, foxes, racoon dogs, coypus and chinchillas are kept. The European Scientific Committee's findings support the argument that these species are unsuitable for life in captivity. Moreover, it is also highly critical of current animal husbandry systems used within the fur farming industry. The report states that they cause 'serious problems for all species of animals reared for fur.' It identified major shortcomings with respect to cages, management methods, the training of farmers and people responsible for breeding programmes, handling practices and the use of objects to stimulate normal behaviour. "The major reason for concern about the farming of fur-bearing animals is the question of whether the species involved can be kept in conditions, which are compatible with their behavioural and physical needs. Apparently this is not the case. The report concludes that 'the animals species used for fur production cannot generally be considered as domesticated, as opposed to other farm animals.' The animals concerned do not come from species that have been long domesticated, and these farmed species largely retain the characteristics of wild animals." (ref- Bont voor Dieren.nl) From just ONE fur broker's website... "Canchilla Associates Limited is a corporation focused on the brokerage of chinchilla fur skins worldwide. We are committed to providing a place where the chinchilla rancer can sell their product at a fair market value. We deliver also to the International Fur and fashion trade a commitment to be the world's best for service and quality of matched, brightened chinchilla fur skins. "Canchilla Associates Limited is one of the world'd oldest and largest chinchilla fur brokerage corporations. The management team with over 100 years combined experience, has and excellent reputation with both the chinchilla rancher and furriers all over the world, leader this corporation to handle between 70,000 - 100,00 fur skins per year. "Canchilla Associates Limited at present has developed relationships and markets in more than 25 countires around the world. Although we are enjoying a good share of the market we are always looking for new markets and new ranchers in order to meet the demands of the international chinchilla industry. Countries include: · United States of America · Canada · China · Japan · Korea · Germany · Italy · France · Great Britain · Spain · Portugal · Greece · Czech Republic · Poland · Hungary · Slovakia · Argentina · Brazil · Chile · Mexico " (ref- Canchilla Associates Limited) MARKET REPORT FROM THE CHINCHILLA INDUSTRY COUNCIL (ref- article written for 2006 by past CIC chairman and Canchilla executive, "Market Report from W.G. Poley") Note by MM: This article is reproduced here to help demonstrate the unprofitability of pelting in the U.S. today. Grammatical errors were left intact. I have just been reading our market reports for 1999 and 2000, and it started me thinking about the many changes in the Fur Trade since my first visit to Europe and the Frankfurt Fur Fair in 1969. At that time Frankfurt Fur Fair was very very large and the preeminent Fur Fair in the World. Today, Frankfurt is only a shadow of its former glory. Currently, Hong Kong is the largest Fur Fair in the World followed by Beijing China, Milan Italy and Montreal Canada. ---How has this effected the Chinchilla Industry?--- In the 1960's, 1970's and 1980's most chinchilla skins were used to manufacture full length garments, jackets and stoles. In 2006 most chinchilla skins are used in the trim and accessory trade. Jackets and stoles are a smaller percentage of the manufacturing industry with full length garments an even smaller percentage. In previous years, Germany, USA and Italy were the dominate buyers in the Fur Trade. Today the dominate buyers for chinchilla skins being Hong Kong/China, USA, Europe and Canada. When we started buying chinchilla our largest supply of skins came from USA and Canada. In 2005 our largest supply came from South America and Eastern Europe and a very small percent coming from USA and Canada. The best selling skins will be the skins Brent [Broker, Treasurer from Canada Canchilla, a fur brokerage organization] buys for lower than $30.00us. These skins are best suited for the trim and accessory trade. The higher priced skins will continue to sell well but just not as strong as the lower priced skins. There is good news for the Chinchilla Rancher. We have returned to paying cash for the skins and will continue with cash buying as long as the market is strong. A change which is worth noting as I bring this report to a close. In 2005, Canchilla had its very best year ever selling over 100,000 chinchilla skins. The approximate sales of our skins: 50% to Hong Kong/China and Japan, 20% to the USA, 20% to Canada and 10% to Europe. Presently, our current market is very strong and 2006 looks like a very strong year. CHINCHILLA RANCHING NEWS FROM CROATIA (ref- Animal Friends Croatia) Note by MM: Some conditions present on European ranches (chinchilla ranching began in the U.S. and other countries have modeled our example), can be identical to those in the U.S. due to the absence of regulation on U.S. ranches. Breeding animals for fur in Croatia Chinchilla d.o.o. is the only fur manufacturer in Croatia and years ago it held 50% of the chinchilla fur world production, but production is in decrease for the last few years, which Mr. Robert Tkalcec, the firm owner, personally confessed, the argument of the Chamber of Commerce that there is a significant number of subcontractors, almost 300 families, among whom are a lot of demilitarised Croatian soldiers, who gain their primary or additional earnings in that way, doesn't go in favour of allowing fur-bearing animals in Croatia. According to information we received from veterinary inspectors and subcontractors, Robert Tkalcec is the only one who profits from such manufacturing, while subcontractors have complained on number of occasions that they have invested a lot, and but have gained a little, and that the buy-out itself has not been conducted in a fully legal manner. Chinchilla breeders don't have registered companies, and they keep animals in basements, attics, garages, byres, so even veterinarians admit that it is impossible to conduct breeding surveillance. Even if there was a book of regulations it is impossible to supervise breeding conditions because the number of veterinarian inspectors is too small and the black market is rather big. Chinchilla breeding isn't a significant industry in Croatia on which depends the existence of numerous families, nor it can be put on the same level as cattle breeding or some other industry, as the Bureau of Agriculture wants to suggest. One company and few hundred people's earnings (for lot of them it's just an extra profit) cannot be an argument for that kind of manufacture preservation in Croatia, the state with a few million people – considering the total number of people in Croatia, we are talking about very small percentage of population, whose existence does not depend on chinchilla fur production. Five-year transition time (which is quite a lot of time), which we proposed for the Draft Proposal of Animal Protection Law, allows adjustment to everyone involved in chinchilla breeding to some other kind of production. Welfare and protection of animals bred for fur In 2001, Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare (SCAHAW), upon EU Commission request, issued a statement about breeding of animals for fur production in EU. Although the statement is discussing welfare of all animals bred for fur in Europe, it is emphasized that the biggest problems are perceived exactly in the chinchilla farm raising, though that kind of breeding includes only a small part of fur industry. The statement contains scientific evaluation of animal welfare, scientifically established recommendations towards animal welfare improvement and emphasizes an absence of scientific works relating to protection of chinchilla in breeding. It is concluded that in chinchilla farm raising for fur production very little attention is given to their welfare. Biggest disadvantages in keeping animals are cramped cages and impossibility of a normal animal behavior, as well as breeding pots insufficiency, restricted access to sand bath, big plastic collars on females necks, and insufficient space in cages makes jumping impossible. That kind of keeping and breeding conditions results in abnormal stereotype behavior, fear, reproduction disorders, and offspring mortality. Considering chinchillas are wild animals that jump when upset and during movement, inadequate cage height can cause injuries because animals hit their heads onto the top of the cage. Keeping conditions itself causes abnormal behavior like endless repetition of same movements and motions in the cage, food-taking refusal, self-inflicted injuries, infliction of injuries to each other (fur biting, ears injured or snapped off, eyes poked out, tails snapped off) which are a result of boredom, stress, cage congestion, absence of food enrichment elements, inadequate feeding and noise (Haferbeck 1982; Kersten 1996; Schuurman 1996). There are only a few studies about frequency of diseases with farm-bred chinchillas. Christensen (1989), based on research conducted between 1983 and 1987 says that offspring mortality is 24%. In second research babies' mortality from pneumonia is around 47%, from starvation 16% and from listerosis disease is 1%. In other 26% death is caused by various infections. The most common cause of death for chinchillas is gastrointestinal diseases. Gastroenteritis is the cause of high mortality, and it is a result of stress, low hygiene, vitamin insufficiency, rotten food, unclean water or food poisoned with chemicals, which results in loss of appetite, total apathy and sudden death. Flatulency caused by feeding changes and absence of certain kind of bacteria result in anxiety in animal that lies in the cage with its legs outstretched, obviously suffering in pain. Listeriosis is common infection caused by bacteria that attacks nervous system resulting in convulsions, blindness and rectum prolapse. Symptoms are apathy, loss of appetite, animal is suffering from spasms and makes a whining sounds. Haemorrhagic septicaemia is an infectious disease with symptoms like pneumonia, coughing, diarrhoea and apathy in animal. The disease develops due to environmental change, congestion and stress. Other diseases are: infective skin diseases; abnormal teeth growth due to inadequate feeding; mastitis, which as a result has a partial or total lack of milk production, and because of what mother sometimes kills its baby; metritis – acute womb infection developed during littering and similar. Chinchilla d.o.o. used to kill chinchillas by neck breaking, and now they claim that they are suffocating animals with gas. During the killing by gas, suffocation and muscle spasms occur, and animals make painful sounds. Other methods of putting chinchillas to death are 5 ml injection of 40 percent chloral hydrate solution into the abdominal cavity or by electrocution. Considering the number of diseases which can develop with chinchillas due to breeding conditions itself and considering the cruel killing methods, it is clear that it's impossible to conduct breeding control, evaluation on whether the breeders are giving the medicine to animals or in which way they are killed. Therefore, the only way for chinchilla protection is prohibition their breeding for fur production. THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE U.S. TALKS ABOUT FUR FARMING "While most people assume that there are laws that mandate the humane treatment of animals on fur farms, there are no federal laws regulating the keeping or killing of cage-raised fur-bearing animals in the United States. And though California has housing requirements for mink and fox that make fur farming cost-prohibitive, no states have bans on fur farming. However, a number of European nations have enacted legislation to ban or severely restrict fur farming." (ref- hsus.org) "Using animals for fashion cheapens life—including our own. Synthetic fabrics, both warmer and lighter than fur, have eliminated the need to kill animals for their fur. Yet each year more than 40 million animals are killed for their fur: minks, foxes, bobcats, beavers, raccoons, sables, lynx, chinchillas—the list goes on and on. Each piece of fur trim represents an animal who suffered and died; a full coat represents many animals. There is no reason to kill animals for fashion, and many reasons not to. "Supporters portray fur "farms" or "ranches" as humane environments, but in fact, these facilities are little more than a series of small wire cages in an open shed. Animals suffer extreme confinement and poor housing conditions. Many of them exhibit behavioral disorders such as constant pacing, self-mutilation, and infanticide. Many suffer physical abnormalities as a result of inbreeding. They suffer as they die, too: neck breaking, gassing, and anal electrocution are the most common methods of killing animals raised for fur." (ref- hsus.org) KILLING METHODS (avma recommendation, electrocution, cervical dislocation) Naturally, chinchillas are all "euthanized" before pelting, so no need to object, right? Hardly. See for yourself and despite the investigation source that video is indeed real. Euthanasia is, by definition, a painless, humane death for the purpose of sparing an ailing animal or person from interminable suffering. The term euthanasia, therefore, can never apply to taking the life of an animal that is young, robust and full of life, like the chinchillas on fur farms that die by the two primary killing methods used in the U.S.: electrocution or cervical dislocation. You'll never see those methods used at your vet's office because no vet wants to be sued for "euthanizing" like that. Think about it without the suspension of disbelief we're taught to use for those sordid things that happen out of sight, somewhere else... to chinchillas we'll never meet. There are some pet breeders who are pelter club members and are typically misinformed or in complete denial about the conditions of life and death on fur farms because they assume their "inside connection" with ranchers affords them the naked truth about everything, as if ranchers would incriminate themselves by revealing anything potentially questionable or unsavory about their business to people who value their livestock as pets and might possibly bring PETA down on them tomorrow. We know about this subject after years of researching the issue thoroughly from both sides (communication with both ranchers and AR extremists, following headlines, researching online, and by reading our large reference library which contains many rancher-authored books, .doc); we know where the extremists are distorting or exaggerating and where the pelters are lying regardless of whether others are able to handle the truth or not. The bottom line is not actually whether or not killing methods are humane, although that certainly helps. The bottom line is that pelting is unnecessary and it's up to caring people in the pet chinchilla community to do something to ensure that no chinchilla dies a senseless, preventable death. THE AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) RECOMMENDATION The two primary killing methods used on chinchilla pelting ranches in the U.S. are electrocution and neck-breaking (ref- .pdf, HSUS). These methods stand in contrast to what is advised by the American Veterinary Medical Association in the Guidelines on Euthanasia for June, 2007: Recommendations made for "Mink, fox and other mammals produced for fur" are: "Barbiturates, inhalant anesthetics, CO2, CO, potassium chloride in conjunction with general anesthesia." Euthanasia recommendations for chinchillas in particular indicate just one method, carbon monoxide: "Carbon monoxide has been used to euthanize mink and chinchillas. These animals collapsed in 1 minute, breathing ceased in 2 minutes, and the heart stopped beating in 5 to 7 minutes." (ref- .pdf, AVMA 2007 report) "Sodium pentobarbital, the drug preferred for euthanasia of companion animals, is a legally controlled substance and must be administered by a veterinarian or other licensed professional. Due to the resulting high costs associated with its use, it is rarely used in the killing of animals raised commercially for fur." (ref- .pdf, HSUS) ELECTROCUTION Also see: Historic Bills to Stop Electrocution of Fur Farm Animals Gain Support Genital electrocution, deemed “unacceptable” by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) 1993 Panel on Euthanasia, is a fur factory farm killing method that causes animals the pain of cardiac arrest while they are fully conscious. "A clamp was attached to the animal's ear and another to her labia and a switch was flipped, sending a jolt of electricity through her skin down the length of her body. This electrical current causes unbearable muscle pain - akin to the intense pain of a heart attack - to the fully conscious animal, yet at the same time works as a paralysing agent, preventing the victim from screaming or fighting." (ref- animalwatch.org, now defunct) "In 1994, Indiana became the first state to file criminal charges against a fur factory farm after PETA investigators documented genital electrocution at V-R Chinchillas. The chinchilla fur industry considers electrocution and neck-breaking 'acceptable." (ref- peta.org media center) "Use of a nose-to-tail or nose-to-foot method alone may kill the animal by inducing cardiac fibrillation [heart attack, while fully conscious], but the animal may be conscious for a period of time before death. Therefore, these techniques are unacceptable." -AND- "Electrocution induces death by cardiac fibrillation, which causes cerebral hypoxia. However, animals do not lose consciousness for 10 to 30 seconds or more after onset of cariac fibrillation. It is imperative that animals be unconscious before being electrocuted... Techniques that apply electric current from head to tail, head to fot or head to moistened metal plates on which the animal is standing are unacceptable." (ref- .pdf, AVMA 2000 report) "Lynxes, coyotes, foxes and chinchillas are often killed by anal electrocution, forced to bite down on metal bits while electric rods are inserted into their anuses." (ref- friendsofanimals.org) "Standard killing methods in fur factories are gassing and neck-breaking for mink, anal electrocution and poison injection for foxes, and neck-breaking and genital electrocution for chinchillas." (ref- www.fundforanimals.org) "The chinchilla industry proudly admits that most chinchillas are killed by neck breaking or electrocution. Many chinchilla farmers hook one metal clamp to the ear, and another to her genitalia to implement the electrocution of this poor creature. The chinchilla is small, and it takes as many as 100 of them to die in order to make a single full-length fur coat. The fur trade calls this 'humane." (ref- mercyforanimals.org) "In 1994, films of genital electrocution taken on chinchilla farms resulted in a Sonoma Valley, California, farm being charged with cruelty to animals. Prosecutors documented that, according to veterinarians, the animals suffer during this process, in which the chinchilla is held upside down by the tail and electrodes are placed in the ear and in the anal canal or penis; a switch is then pulled to electrocute." (ref- .pdf, Endangered Species Handbook) "Electrocution: The animals are either electrocuted, gassed or have their necks broken. Although this last method is banned in the European Union, in Croatia there are no laws or regulations governing chinchilla farming. Even if there were, there would not be enough officials to enforce them. Our investigator used a hidden camera to film a chinchilla's last moments. "Slow death: Our investigator informed us that, 'The farmer attached metal clips to one of the animal's legs and its mouth, which he then connected to a transformer. The chinchilla screamed when the electrodes were attached. It went silent as soon as the current was turned on but it was still moving after a good minute and a half. The farmer checked a couple of times to make sure the animal was dead, which was not until two minutes after it was electrocuted. Once the animal was dead, the farmer removed the clips and began cutting it up after shaking it a final time to make sure it really was dead.' It takes 120 chinchillas to make a single fur coat." (ref- Once Voice for the Animals) CERVICAL DISLOCATION, OR, NECK-BREAKING ECBC recommends neck-breaking. It takes a few minutes for the chinchilla to die by that method, in the meantime the body flops around spastically until agonized breathing onsets, then death, it's not a pretty, peaceful way to go as demonstrated here. Naturally, pelting supporters claim that the chinchilla feels no pain by this method, but in our online research and from having watched a chinchilla get their neck snapped by a wheel with spokes, we just don't think so. Vets don't euthanize by neck-breaking, pelters shouldn't kill by it. "Data suggest that electrical activity in the brain persists for 13 seconds following cervical dislocation, and unlike decapitation, rapid exsanguination does not contribute to loss of consciousness." (ref- .pdf, AVMA 2007 report) "Neck-snapping is another method farmers favor, particularly for small animals like chinchillas. The farmer wraps his fingers around the neck of the chinchilla, grasps the animal's lower body with his other hand and jerks the animal's vertebra out of the socket, breaking its neck. Neck-snapping takes just a second, but for about five minutes afterwards, the animal jerks and twitches. It might take two minutes for an animal to become brain-dead from cervical dislocation - in the meantime, she or he kicks and struggles." (ref- animalwatch.org, now defunct) "Since physical methods of euthanasia (such as cervical dislocation) require the most skill to perform and are most likely to be affected by human error, the AVMA Panel recommends that such methods are used only when alternative methods are not appropriate. Methods deviating from these recommendations must be 'justified for scientific reasons in writing by the investigator.' The use of cervical dislocation in rodents is only recommended for mice and small rats, and whenever possible the use of sedation or light anesthesia prior to euthanasia is recommended." (ref- Stanford Lab Animals guidelines) "Cervical dislocation should be performed on sedated or unconscious rodents. [pelting ranches don't invest the time and expense to sedate] Disadvantages: When performed incorrectly it may induce or prolong animal suffering." (ref- Pennsylvania State University Animal Research Program)