ACRES, in partnership with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and the Change For Animals Foundation (CFAF), is taking a united stand against one of the fashion industry’s most brutal trades—the fur industry.
Every year, it is estimated that over one billion animals are killed for their fur. From rabbits, mink, foxes, raccoon dogs and lynx, to even domestic dogs and cats, animals suffer immense cruelty so that their pelts can be turned into fashion accessories, trims, and garments.
The reality is harrowing: up to 65 mink, 40 foxes, or 60 rabbits may be killed to make just one fur coat. And as fur trims become more affordable, they’re creeping into mainstream fashion—from jackets to gloves, toys to home décor—often without any labelling, and sometimes cheaper than faux fur. Many consumers don’t even know they’re wearing real fur.
Photo x 1 – animal with thick fur
How is Fur Produced?
Behind every fur-trimmed item lies a story of suffering:
- Wild animals such as bobcats, coyotes, and foxes are often trapped using steel-jaw leghold traps or wire snares—devices that cause prolonged agony. These traps are indiscriminate, frequently injuring and killing non-target species, including dogs, cats, birds, and even endangered wildlife.
- Farmed animals, which account for an estimated 85% of the fur trade, endure lives of confinement and misery in intensive factory farms. Mink, rabbits, and raccoon dogs are kept in tiny wire cages, denied space, enrichment, and even the ability to perform basic natural behaviours. Many go mad from confinement before they are killed—often in inhumane ways such as gassing, electrocution, or neck-breaking.
Photo x 1 – animal in cramped cages
Global Momentum Against Fur
Around the world, governments, designers, and animal advocates are taking action to end this cruelty:
- Fashion weeks, such as Oslo Fashion Week, have implemented fur-free runways.
- Luxury fashion houses, under pressure from compassionate consumers, are removing fur from their collections.
- In South Korea, public outcry led officials to demand the removal of fur from high-profile fashion shows.
- In China, protests against the seal fur trade helped halt the import of cruelly sourced products.
The tide is turning—but we need your voice to help end this industry for good.
What You Can Do
Every purchase is a choice. You have the power to protect animals and shift the market away from cruelty. Here’s how you can help:
- Never buy fur, even if it’s cheap or unlabelled. If you’re unsure whether an item is real fur, don’t purchase it.
- Educate others. Share the truth about fur with friends and family so they can make informed, compassionate choices.
- Write to retailers still selling fur. Ask them to adopt a fur-free policy and align their brand with kindness and ethical fashion.
- Support fur-free retailers. Let your spending reflect your values by choosing brands that have committed to staying fur-free.
Your voice matters. Public pressure has already led countless brands to drop fur. Let’s keep the momentum going.
Why Speak Up to Retailers?
Retailers listen to their customers. Many are unaware of the cruelty behind their products—until someone tells them. By contacting them, you’re:
- Advocating for the voiceless
- Helping others make ethical choices
- Joining thousands of compassionate individuals speaking up worldwide
Download a template letter [Fur Retailer Supporter Letter Template] to use when writing to shops that sell fur products.
If you receive a reply, we’d love to hear from you—please forward it to info@changeforanimals.org
Together, We Can End the Fur Trade
Through this collaborative campaign, CFAF, ACRES, and SPCA Singapore are working to raise awareness and stop the sale of fur products in Singapore. By ending the demand, we can end the cruelty—and spare millions of animals from needless suffering.
Let’s make compassion the trend that never goes out of style.
Fur Free Retailer
Say no to fur. Say yes to kindness.