Absolument pas. La seule ‘’preuve’’ de cette allégation si souvent répétée est une horrible vidéo sur internet. Produite par des groupes activistes européens, elle montre un villageois chinois cruellement battre et dépecer un raton laveur asiatique qui est encore bien vivant. Il y a plusieurs indices qui démontrent que cette vidéo a été montée de toutes pièces.
En dehors de la cruauté évidente, il est beaucoup moins dangereux et plus facile d'euthanasier un animal avant de lui enlever la peau. Alors pourquoi quelqu’un voudrait-il faire cela ? Il est également étrange que cette vidéo --et seulement cette vidéo-- ait été montrée à maintes reprises depuis que la Protection Suisse des Animaux (PSA) l’ait sortie en 2006; s'il s'agissait d'une pratique courante, nous aurions vu bien d'autres exemples.
En fait, quand cette vidéo est apparue la première fois, l’International Fur Federation (IFF) a demandé aux auteurs le film complet non édité et des informations sur la date et le lieu où l'incident s'est produit afin de mener une enquête complète. Ces demandes sont demeurées sans réponse, une réaction étrange de la part de groupes prétendant se soucier du bien-être des animaux. À moins, bien sûr, qu’une personne ait été payée pour faire ces actes horribles devant la caméra et que l'objectif réel de cette vidéo était plutôt de mousser les campagnes des droits des animaux... et les collectes de fonds ?
***
Condensed from: 5 Reasons Why It Is Ridiculous to Claim Animals Are Skinned Alive, TAF - The Blog, Jan. 20, 2016.
1. It would be completely inhumane
Contrary to what activists would have us believe, most farmers take great pride in what they do; they take good care of their animals and treat them with respect. After all, their livelihoods depend on these animals, and the only way to produce the high quality of mink and fox for which North America is known is by providing them with excellent nutrition and care. When you work hard to care for animals – seven days a week, 52 weeks a year – you certainly don’t want to see them suffer.
It is therefore completely ignorant (and insulting) to claim that farmers would treat their animals with cruelty. They certainly would never skin an animal alive!
2. It would be dangerous for the operator
If respect for the animals and normal compassion were not enough to ensure that animals are not skinned alive, the farmer’s self-interest would be. A live and conscious animal will move, putting the farmer at risk of being bitten or scratched or cut with his own knife – creating a real risk of infection or disease transmission.
Why would anyone expose themselves to such risks by skinning a live animal? The answer, of course, is that they don’t!
3. It would take longer and be less efficient
We’ve already explained the dangers of skinning a live animal – only common sense when you think about it – but let’s also take a moment to consider how difficult it would be.
Farming is a business and, like in most businesses, it is important to be efficient. Clearly it must be faster to skin an animal after it’s been euthanized. It is also important to understand that the skinning of a mink or other fur animal must be done very carefully, to avoid nicks and other damage that would lower the value of the fur.
So, again, why would anyone skin a live animal? Quite apart from the cruelty, it would make no business sense whatsoever.
4. It would spoil the fur
While activists like to accuse farmers of being greedy (“killing animals for profit!”), they don’t seem to understand that skinning animals alive would work against the farmer’s financial interest.
Today’s international markets are very competitive. The amount you earn for your fur is determined by a number of factors including pelt size, fur quality, colour … and damage. But the heart of a live animal would be beating and pumping blood; attempting to skin a live animal would therefore unnecessarily stain the fur.
Furthermore, after euthanasia, fur animals should be cooled thoroughly before pelting. Otherwise the fur can be damaged and the hair is prone to shed after tanning.
Yet another reason why animals are not skinned alive.
5. It’s illegal
In North America, Europe, and most other regions it is illegal to cause unnecessary suffering to an animal. Skinning an animal alive is therefore not only inhumane and immoral – it’s clearly illegal. Yet another reason why animals are not skinned alive.
Réponse par :
Director, North American Fur Industry Council
