Fur Trade - Ethics

When I choose the topic of the Fur Industry for my paper and presentation, I had not expected to find out what I did. For whatever the reasons, I was not well informed before my research on the real issues around the Fur Industry. I was expecting to find information on the part of the industry that I was familiar with and had grown up around. The trapping of wild animals, a rather small part of the problem compared to issues around fur farms.

Once I had dug into the topic and familiarized myself with the much larger issue around this topic, I began to quickly change my opinion. I was surprised to learn how little regulation currently exists for this industry, not just around the globe, but here in the United States also. I don’t have any problem with the industry itself as far as harvesting animals for the fur, but I do think there needs to be policies put into place. Most importantly that when these animals are harvested for their fur, the animals are put down in a way that is humane. I don’t feel this industry should treat animals any differently than the agriculture industry that raises and harvest’s animals for food.

Once the issue of how to put these animals down is addressed, they should then look at the living conditions for the animals on these farms. When there has been better regulation but in place addressing those two issues, I think the Fur Industry may not be one that is so controversial.

I liked this assignment due to researching a topic and learning more about it that I wasn’t already aware of.

The role plays for my presentation seemed different that many of the others that I either participated in or watched. It seemed to me that the two “role players” weren’t that engaged. I am not sure exactly why I feel that way, but that is how it seemed. I am not sure if it was because I was presenting, we had a test later in class,