The Miss Maryland pageant continues to give away fur prizes despite knowing that animals killed for their skins live in cramped, filthy conditions before being killed by electrocution, neck-breaking, or gassing. Most fur comes from China, where animals—including dogs and cats—are bludgeoned and even skinned alive for their fur, as seen in this brief video narrated by Eva Mendes.

The Miss Florida competition has just announced that it will no longer give away fur prizes, and many top designers—including Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, and Stella McCartney—and retailers such as J. Crew and Forever 21 now refuse to use or sell any fur products, in part because young consumers are largely opposed to the cruelty of fur. More and more public figures are shunning fur—and not just actors and models. Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy recently announced that they are fur-free too.

Please give a voice to the animals who suffer and die for their fur and urge the Miss Maryland pageant coordinators to set an example of compassion by pledging not to give away fur prizes in future pageants.