The Canada Mink Breeders Association has posted a $100,000 reward for information leading to the capture and prosecution of “animal-rights” extremists who broke into a southern Ontario farm and released as many as 500 animals during the night of April 29/30.
“We are shocked that any person or group would commit such a cruel and irresponsible act. Most of these mink were nursing females; their newborn kits are all under two weeks old – some are only days old -- they are completely dependent on their mothers for warmth and frequent feeding at this stage and many will die,” said CMBA president Marianne Patten in a news release.
A group calling themselves the “mink freedom movement” has claimed responsibility on a website called Bite Back that publicizes their actions.
“This is a despicable and irresponsible act,” said Kirk Rankin, an Ontario mink farmer and former president of the CMBA. “Several Ontario farms were attacked like this last summer. These criminals don’t think that people have a right to use animals, fine, but these are domesticated animals that have been raised on farms for more than 100 generations. They cannot fend for themselves in the wild, so most will die. And the few that do survive will endanger domesticated ducks or chickens in the region. Releasing nursing females is cruel and just plain stupid.”
“Whoever released these mink showed a complete disregard for the welfare of the animals; they should be charged for animal cruelty,” said Gary Hazlewood, executive director of the CMBA.
“People have a right to their opinions, but breaking into a farm and releasing mink is a criminal action that shows a complete disregard for people and animals. These are family-run farms and farmers work very hard to assure the well-being of their livestock,” said Hazlewood.
The value of Canadian fur exports topped $300 million in 2015, with mink produced on more than 200 farms across the country. More than 60,000 Canadians work in various sectors of the fur trade, as trappers, fur farmers, craftspeople and other support sectors.
The fur trade worldwide is now valued at more than $40 billion, according to a recent study by Price Waterhouse Cooper (PwC) Italy, commissioned by the International Fur Federation.
Global fur retail sales are estimated at $35.8bn, farming is valued at $7.8bn and total employment in the sector is over one million.
