“PETA will now focus on pushing the company to expand its compassion to all animals that are tormented for clothing, including gentle sheep,” said the Organisation’s Executive Vice President, Tracy Reiman.
Whilst PETA has historically cited alleged ‘inhumane conditions’ in which animals like fox and coyote are held on farms, it’s only over the past year that it’s also stressed the potential for such premises to spread disease from animals to humans, via zoonosis.
The novel coronavirus has been identified on fur farms, particularly those rearing mink, in countries around the world, with the assertion being that the crammed conditions in which these animals are held has the capacity to infect farm workers.
Notably, authorities in Utah have been criticised for covering up the death of one farm worker who is believed to have contracted coronavirus.
Though Pendleton has been praised for taking an “important first step” by banning animal fur across its product range, it’s been tasked by PETA to go further and shun all forms of animal product within its supply chain.
