In response to animal rights organization concerns, two theater companies in southwestern Ontario have chosen to donate their old fur garments from wardrobe collections for use in animal rehabilitation. The Palace Theatre in London initially planned a flash fur sale to recycle old garments no longer needed for stage productions.
The furs mainly originate from estates where individuals are unsure what to do with inherited fur coats. Selling vintage coats, between 35 to 70 years old, was seen as a sustainable way to reduce, reuse, and recycle the items.
Upon receiving the notice, Jenny McQueen, co-founder of Animal Rights Toronto, an umbrella organization, opposed the fur sale and reuse. The ongoing use of fur remains a contentious issue in Canada, with some advocating for its comeback and importance to Indigenous groups, while others like McQueen advocate for a complete end to its use.
Queen Elizabeth declared in 2019 she would cease buying fur, and several fashion houses, including Gucci, Prada, and Armani, have also pledged to discontinue using fur. McQueen believes that reusing vintage fur could normalize its use and increase its popularity, setting back animal rights progress.
Rather than reusing old fur, McQueen’s #ZipOffTheCruelty campaign encourages people to donate fur items to be repurposed as bedding for animals in rehabilitation centers. She shared an Instagram video with the Palace Theatre depicting a fur hat donated by her group being used as a bed for baby squirrels at an Ontario rehabilitation center.
The Palace Theatre decided to cancel the planned sale of vintage fur following McQueen’s pitch for donation instead. McQueen also donated fox coats to Procyon Wildlife, where they are used as bedding for orphaned baby animals, providing warmth and comfort.
Deb Chantler, a member of the Palace Theatre board of directors, acknowledged the concerns raised by McQueen regarding animal rights and welfare, supporting the decision to donate furs instead of selling them.
In a similar gesture, the Stratford Festival theater donated multiple fur coats from its collection to Animal Rights Toronto in January, citing inadequate storage for preservation and actors’ preferences against wearing real fur. However, not all animal rehabilitation experts view fur as suitable bedding material due to potential chemical treatments that could be harmful to animals.
Brian Salt from Salthaven Wildlife Rehab and Education Centre mentioned they previously used fur in bedding but discontinued the practice due to concerns about chemicals and the impracticality of washing fur if soiled.
The debate over the use of fur in animal rehabilitation continues, with different perspectives on its benefits and drawbacks.
