People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals feel it's inappropriate for Irish auctioneers to sale furs given what we know about animal pelts and cruelty
The British branch of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have called for Maureen O’Hara’s fur coasts to be withdrawn from the auction set to take place in Durrow, County Laois.
The auction, hosted by Sheppard’s auctioneers, will include furniture, furs and jewelry once belonging to the late, great “Quiet Man” star, Maureen O’Hara. Ahead of Wednesday's auction PETA has sent an urgent letter to the Irish auction house calling for the late actor's mink and sable coats to be removed from sale and donated to its fur amnesty program instead.
Read more: Maureen O’Hara’s furs, jewelry and treasures up for auction
The collection, formerly held by Maureen O’Hara in her former West Cork home, includes a Christian Dior full-length white mink coat. The actress was often photographed wearing the coat, which is trimmed with Arctic fox fur and lined throughout with silk.
An Arctic fox in the wilds.
Their argument is that times have changed, and Hollywood glamor is now what it was. In a statement PETA Director Elisa Allen said "Whereas decades ago, silver screen stars may have considered animal pelts glamorous, that's unthinkable today, given what we know about the cruel fur industry.
“If these fur coats are donated to PETA, we can put them to good use in our educational displays, hand them out to homeless people, or use them as bedding for orphaned animals."
PETA – whose motto reads, in part, that "animals are not ours to wear" – notes that animals on fur farms are made to live in tiny wire cages, denied the opportunity to do anything that is natural and important to them, and killed by electrocution, neck-breaking, or drowning. Animals are also caught in the wild in steel-jaw traps and left to languish – sometimes for days – before succumbing to hunger, thirst, disease, or attacks by predators or being bludgeoned to death by returning trappers.
The letter concludes, "O'Hara was known for her warmth, intelligence, and love of dogs and as a champion of causes – so we hope you'll agree that donating these coats would be the best way to honor her legacy."
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