FCUSA Calls for Swift Investigation
American mink farmers are committed to providing best possible care for their animals.
FCUSA Press Release, January 12, 2016 – Monday morning a mink farmer in Wisconsin was told that a complaint had been filed with the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department, alleging animal cruelty on his farm.
It was learned that a PETA operative had obtained employment on the farm, and had been taking undercover video of the operation for approximately 3 months from September through December. A 3-minute highly edited video has been released and is being used in yet another PETA smear campaign targeting animal agriculture. Local authorities are now investigating and Fur Commission USA will support them however possible to assure a quick resolution of any problems that may be found.
“We take any such reports very seriously; our producers consider animal welfare their highest priority, as excellent care is vital to producing the high-quality mink that the U.S. is known for around the world,” said Fur Commission executive director Michael Whelan.
The farmer in Shawano County has been raising mink for almost 40 years. Licensed veterinarians inspect the farm and the animals regularly, and any injuries or other health issues are addressed and treated appropriately. If there are issues on this farm, we want to get to the bottom of them and ensure that any corrections that may be needed are implemented quickly.
“It’s important to remember that PETA opposes any animal use, for any purposes. Their campaigns against dairy, poultry and cattle production – and even pet ownership and vital medical research — use wildly sensational claims and images to unfairly portray hard-working American farm families. That’s why we think it is important to let legitimate authorities conduct their investigation to find out what happened here.
Fur Commission USA is a national, not-for-profit industry association representing the US mink farmers. The value of US mink production topped $300 million last year.
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