Animal abuse in norwegian fur farms revealed - again

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In 2010, for the third consecutive year, Nettverk for dyrs frihet (The Network for Animal Freedom) has documented the extensive animal cruelty and neglect in Norwegian fur farming. As recently as 2009, Minister of Food and Agriculture Lars Peder Brekk said that the fur industry risks losing their political support if more evidence of animal cruelty in fur farms was uncovered. Animal cruelty has been revealed again, and there must be consequences.

After three consecutive years of evidence, we demand that the Minister Brekk fulfills his promise and begins to shut down fur farms. All three investigations have shown the same miserable conditions the animals endure, which is thoroughly documented with photographs and video footage.

New unannounced inspections
During 2010, the Network for Animal Freedom, in cooperation with Dyrebeskyttelsen Norge (Animal Protection Norway), carried out unannounced investigations at approximately 40 of Norway’s 300 remaining fur farms. Once again, we have evidence of the grave and unacceptable conditions at fur farms.

In 2008 and 2009 the Network for Animal Freedom carried out similar unannounced inspections at 145 farms that breed foxes and minks. This year’s investigation shows again that fur farming involved animal cruelty, even thought these fur farms follow the laws now in practice.

Foxes and minks suffer in cages
The purpose of the inspections has been to document how foxes and minks are treated in Norwegian fur farms. This year’s documentation shows the conditions that are both common and widespread within the fur industry but are rarely made known to the public through pictures and video footage.

This research shows that foxes and minks, which are wild predators, suffer in Norwegian fur farms when they are kept confined in small wire cages, where they do not have an outlet for their most basic needs and instincts. Forced abnormal behavior is widespread: cannibalism, fear and animals that bite each other until they bleed due to stress and poor quality of life.

The Network for Animal Freedom has taken thousands of photos from inside Norwegian fur farms. The pictures show the reality that minks and foxes endure as they are held captive at fur farms. Here you can view a selection of images taken during the investigations carried out by the Network for Animal Freedom:

Pictures from 2010 | Pictures from 2009 | Pictures from 2008