Rabbit? Or dog?

Are you guilty of being a fur hag? Many people aren't aware of the cruelties that are hidden behind that bushy exterior. Let's see, here...

• In China, where much of the US's fur comes from, dogs and cats are often skinned for fur, then passed off as "fox" or "rabbit."
  
• Animals hunted for fur are caught in steel traps so painful that they sometimes chew off their own limbs in order to escape.
• Many animals used for fur are anally or genitally electrocuted as a cheap form of execution, which often proves unsuccessful.
• The animals who are not killed by cheap execution methods are skinned alive or half-conscious.
• Fur is NOT a by-product of any meat industry.
• There are NO federal laws protecting animals used for fur. Beating, stomping-on, breaking bones, or starving the animals have no consequences and are used to kill diseased animals or those not electrocuted.

Grossed-out yet?

So are many other Americans finally being exposed to these disturbing facts.

But there is hope!

Tons of designers and celebrities are realizing that fur is very not cool or fashionable in any way.

Check out all these shops and designers that are following the fur-free trend!

Abercrombie and Fitch

Aeropostale

American Apparel

American Eagle

Ann Taylor

Anthropologie

Apple Bottoms

Banana Republic

BCBG

bebe

Betsey Johnson

Billabong

Calvin Klein

Champs Sports

Charlotte Russe

Dockers

Dollhouse

Eddie Bauer

Esprit

Express

Foot Locker

Forever 21

The Gap

Guess?

H&M

Hollister Co.

HSN (Home Shopping Network)

J. Crew

Kenneth Cole

Levi's

Limited Brands

Lucky Brand Jeans

Nautica

Old Navy

Overstock.com

Paul Frank

Polo Ralph Lauren

Stella McCartney

Steve Madden

The Limited

Talbots

Timberland

Tommy Hilfiger

Vans

Victoria's Secret

Zappos.com

See? There are tons of alternatives! I didn't list them all here, just some of the big ones I've heard of before.

For more information, go to www.FurIsDead.com They have a lot of ways you can get active, including taking about 10 seconds to shoot an email to Urban Outfitters and Amazon.com to urge them to stop selling fur. It's well worth taking a look!

Or try FurKills.org for some cool victories and news updates.

Click here to see what your fur coat used to be.

For a video of Martha Stewart denouncing fur, click on this link: