Whether you are a 105% animal-lover and answer "To let live" or a fur coat addict and answer "not to let live", here are a few facts I want you to know so you have the right information to defend your point of view, or attack others (not judging!), during discussions about veganism.

To my fashion-loving fur coat & leather booties wearers: I used to be one of your own. To be honest, I had more pairs of leather boots than I could count. And yes, I had a fur coat too!! But, that all changed when I saw… Paul McCartney!!...or something like that! :p Four years ago one of my best friends sent me an email with two sentences and a link. Her words were: "You love animals so much you have to see this. Make it your new year's resolution. Happy New Year! Love you!" And there it was... a link to Paul McCartney's documentary with a title that said it all. "If slaughterhouses had glass walls we would all be vegetarian." BAAM! My first slap in the face! Little did I know I would receive a few more slaps and even a HUGE punch in the stomach after watching it. For those who’ve had the strength to watch it entirely, HIGH FIVE!!! I finished the documentary in fetal position rocking myself on the floor next to an empty box of Kleenex! That was it for me! Bye bye Wendy's combo. So long McDonalds Mcnuggets. Au revoir homemade "churrascos" (I guess the proper word in English would be “bar-bi-qiu”).

As the months passed by I decided to read more about vegetarianism and veganism so I went to my can't-live-without-you boyfriend, Google, and typed "vegan- Peta- animals". BAAAAAAMMM, PSSHHHH, PIU PIU, POONG and all the crashing sounds you can think of! Arrivederci leather boots, Tschüssie furry coats, Adios cruelty-full products!! There is so much cruelty going on in all industries that use animal parts (no better way to put it) that the shocking learning process really never ends. All I can suggest is to take it one day at a time!! And with that being said, today is your DAY ONE.

Fur coat industry 101… China has become one of the leading suppliers of fur garments to the USA. It doesn’t matter if the fur coat you are wearing is labeled as “Wild animal” or “Farm raised”, that exotic animal is not only dead but it also endured hours of pain. This was proven in an undercover research that showed raccoons, beavers, minks and other animals being skinned alive by humans. Oh, and if that is not enough, dogs and cats are included in that list too. Yeap! China sells dog and cat fur, which are labeled as “fur”. See the difference in the label? There is none. So that fur coat you have in your closet might just be a dead dog. This puts the “Love One but Kill the other” quote in a different perspective, doesn’t it? Below are a few links with more information. Be careful. The pictures are graphic! Good luck with Day One guys.

PS: I don't like to finish stories with a tragic ending so, the good news are.... There are vegan options to fur!! YAY!!! I will share those with you through the "Outfit of the day" posts. :)

To my vegan siblings from another mother: All blog posts now have a Facebook share button so spread the love!!!

Xoxo

Vale.

Reality-sucks LINKS:

Paul McCartney's If Slaughterhouses Had Glass Walls: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_UpyY2MIOc

China Fur Farms: http://features.peta.org/ChineseFurFarms/

Animals skinned for fur: http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-clothing/fur/animals-used-fur/

The Fur Industry summarized: http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-clothing/fur/