Two theatre companies in southwestern Ontario have decided to donate their old fur garments to support animal rehabilitation following concerns raised by an animal rights organization. The Palace Theatre in London recently announced a flash fur sale as a way to recycle old fur garments that were no longer needed for their stage productions.
The decision to donate the fur garments came after a notice about the fur sale was forwarded to Jenny McQueen, a co-founder of Animal Rights Toronto. McQueen, who opposes the sale, resale, and reuse of fur, believes that using vintage fur could potentially normalize its use, which she thinks would be detrimental to animal rights.
While some individuals view vintage fur as making a comeback and consider its use important for Indigenous groups, there is a growing movement to end the use of fur permanently. Queen Elizabeth announced in 2019 that she would stop buying fur, and major fashion houses like Gucci, Prada, and Armani have also committed to no longer using fur.
Instead of selling or reusing old fur garments, McQueen’s group encourages people to donate them for animal rehabilitation purposes. The donated fur items, including coats, hats, and trim pieces, are repurposed as bedding for orphaned animals in rehabilitation centers.
McQueen provided a compelling case for donating fur garments by sharing an Instagram video of a fur hat being used as bedding for baby squirrels at an Ontario rehabilitation center. The warmth and comfort provided by the fur to the orphaned animals were evident.
The Palace Theatre in London and the Stratford Festival have both opted to donate their fur coats to animal rehabilitation organizations in response to the growing concerns about animal welfare and rights. While some rehabilitation centers have reservations about using fur as bedding due to potential chemical treatments and washing difficulties, the practice continues to be supported by donations from various sources.