Time we shut down barbaric fur farms Letter to the Editor, Belfast Telegraph, 10 July 2018 As Ireland bakes in the ongoing heatwave, spare a thought for the thousands of mink trapped in metal cages on cruel fur farms. Bundled up in the thick fur coats that doom them to death, and denied their natural instinct to slip into a river to cool off, the suffering of these animals must be immense. On the three remaining fur farms here, over 180,000 mink are bred into existence every year and confined for their entire lives. At six months of age, they are pulled out, thrown squealing into a gassing box and poisoned with carbon monoxide. All so that fur can be ripped from their bones and stitched into grotesque garments. Last month, Luxembourg became the 10th EU nation to prohibit fur farms. In January, Norway (with 250 fur farms) pledged to phase out fur farming by 2025. How long before the Irish Government shows some compassion and shuts down this industry. Philip Kiernan Irish Council Against Blood Sports PO Box 88, Mullingar, Co Westmeath Video: Mink in cages in a fur farm in County Laois https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvX1O9GvsQ4