Is this ethically bad?

[Tab]

I mean, I can do what I want, and it's small scale, but just curious what the PETA community would make of it.

We inherited some fur coats - mainly mink - that were probably made a good 60+ years ago. Had them appraised but they didn't appraise for anything - apparently old fur is useless unless there's something distinctly unique about them (e.g.: you have provenance showing it was worn by Marilyn Monroe or something).

We thought we'd put them in consignment to see what we could get for them - but most consignment shops don't accept furs at all. I don't know if that actually happened (my mother has custody of them), but they're nothing we want to wear and/or fit and/or feel comfortable wearing and as far as I know, they're still in her closet.

The appraiser actually said they make teddy bears out of the old minks - which sounds sweet. He wasn't trying to lowball us because he didn't really want to get the batch at all. It was really junk fur, being this old. He was fair and honest about that.

I have some dogs, three of which are little ones, two of which particularly like to play. I have a large history of buying soft fabric squeaky things, which they love, but inevitably get chewed up, if not in the first hour, then certainly in the first week, and then we're out a toy and there's stuffing all over the place. So we don't have a ton of toys.

For some reason, I thought the mink stole we had, maybe 2.5 feet long, and for which we'd be told we'd get a few dollars at best, if any, would be an excellent dog toy. So my mother took the jackets, not sure what do to with them, but we have had more dog enjoyment out of that mink stole that one would think. They love that thing. It's not like we're encouraging new furring, were just trying to figure out what to do with some very old stuff that might end up in the trash otherwise.

Thoughts?

[pugetres]

1. My first thought

was that I bet the organization that I volunteer with would love to have furs for the wildlife that they rehab. A fur to play with or cuddle up with would probably be a wonderful donation. I'm sure that even companion animal shelter could get use out of them.

[yeoman6987]

2. Great idea

With the larger minks, make toys for the dogs too. I think that is a win-win. It's better then the waste can. The animals used to make the kinks are obviously gone so to me the toy idea for the dogs is great. Not sure others will agree but maybe some will give other ideas.

[katsy]

3. Nothing wrong with repurposing them

And as the other poster suggested, shelter animals would love them I'm sure

[TreasonousBastard]

4. I would have no problem with that...

Minks that died years ago for our egos now comfort our pets.

Beats throwing them in the trash, which would make their deaths completely meaningless.

[Tab]

5. Thanks, especially donating them to a shelter or something

Hadn't thought of that.

Since we probably can't get much money out of them (perhaps less than $100 altogether), it's certainly not thousands, and I'd much more prefer to put them to use like my dogs enjoy.

The shelter is a good idea. Thanks

[Kalidurga]

6. Waste is much worse I think.

[ginnyinWI]

7. I would ask:

Does what you are going to do with them help or hurt any live animals? I'd say no hurt: it's not going to make someone go out and buy more furs. It might help if they are used for pets and shelter animals.

I have an old collar off a coat, probably rabbit, which I sometimes use in my smaller foster kittens' beds. Gives them a nice furry thing to snuggle up with. I also have a pile sheepskin my daughter bought from IKEA in her pre-vegan days for her now deceased cat, and the kittens like to snuggle and knead on that, too.

[Tab]

8. The only way that would happen

is if I tried to make a business out of this. If it was successful, I'd risk suppliers doing new pelting. I don't want that. I could, in theory, if I wanted to get into that, accept only old furs, but then I'd need some training to know what was what.

No, I think I'm going to make take one other piece or two for my dogs, and the rest goes to some shelter or rescue/rehab project.

Thanks for all the advice!

On edit: of course, the second I pushed "publish", I realize maybe it'd be good to get a website that matched fur owners with shelters and rehabs. There'd be no incentive for new furring, since it'd all be donations with no money reciprocated, and low-valued at that, so there'd be no tax incentive. That might be an interesting project. If anyone is interested in how to arrange this, please PM me.

Thanks!

- Tab

[flvegan]

9. Why would you ever care what "the PETA community" would make of it?

Taking an evil and turning it into something good, I doubt those minks (and that's the only real opinion that matters) would object.

Oh, and if you still question:

http://www.peta.org/donate/ways-to-support-peta/donate-fur/