Truth in advertising helps avert fate of the poor raccoon dog

For the past several months, much ink has been expended by the national press to explore the clothing industry and the truth in labeling of fur trim on winter coats. Many of these “faux fur” labeled garments in reality are made of real fur from the skins of “Nycereutes procyonoides” or raccoon dog.

There are at least two separate and distinct issues here: the proper labeling of clothing with fur or furlike trim and the inhumane treatment of the animals used for these garments.

Here in Maine, the old-timers remember the heavy green nylon insulated winter coats with the real fur trim issued to airmen at Dow Field or Loring Air Force bases. They were warm for those bitterly cold and windy days and nights on the Strategic Air Command flight lines. They often were worn in the community, and civilians got them from surplus stores or by other means.

The consumer issue of the recent flap is truth in advertising. Consumers have the right to know what they are buying and what components or ingredients are used. Most of the fur-trimmed garments were manufactured in China (what isn’t these days?) and clearly labeled “faux fur.” The reality is that the material used was real fur from the Asian raccoon dog in violation of U.S. law.

Consumers with allergies to animal fur and animal rights consumers were deceived into believing they were avoiding a real fur product. Many major department store chains, including J.C. Penney and Macy’s, had these falsely labeled products in their stores. When the issue was brought to their attention, it gave new meaning to the term “shock and awe.”

Many retailers immediately removed the mislabeled items from their stores. Some slashed their prices by 70 percent or 80 percent or more to clear their inventories. Some used black markers to blot out the words “faux fur” on the label (a legal solution), and left the products on the rack. Many Hollywood celebrities who also are strong animal rights activists were “faked out” and photographed wearing fake fake-fur coats.

Spring clothing is finding its way onto the clothiers’ shelves and this recent brouhaha is subsiding. Northeast CONTACT supports complete truth in the labeling and listing of components and ingredients in all products and prepared foods. We also support active federal and state interdiction systems to ensure the consumer is protected from misrepresented and mislabeled goods and services.

What is a raccoon dog? There is much confusion about these little critters. A quick Google search will provide hundreds of Web sites to a better understanding of this interesting, but poorly understood, creature (actually there are several sub-species of the animal).

Their taxonomical name in Greek means “night wandering raccoon.” They are actually a member of the canine family, but very unlike a dog. Their natural habitat is Mongolia, Russia, Korea, North Vietnam, Western Europe and Japan, and they live in wooded areas and make burrows in the ground. They are not domesticated. In Japan, they are called “tanuki” or “badger.” Their numbers have been reduced because they are aggressively hunted for fur and their habitat has been reduced by urbanization. They are monogamous and omnivorous. They are not aggressive, preferring to scream or play dead when attacked.

Sadly, a Web search also will show, all too graphically, how these poor animals are “harvested” for their fur. There appear to be no animal rights laws or protection of any kind in China.

Faux fur, or fake fur, has been around for the last half-century or so and at one time Malden Mills in Lawrence, Mass., was arguably the faux fur capital of the world. No animals died. The clothing made was (and is) just as warm or warmer than those made with the skins of the “life forms” that make the ultimate sacrifice.

Consumers who are informed on the content of their garment can let their consciences (and applicable laws) be their guide. Let’s give the raccoon dog a break.

Consumer Forum is a collaboration of the Bangor Daily News and Northeast CONTACT, Maine’s membership-funded nonprofit consumer organization. Individual membership costs $25; business rates start at $125 (0-10 employees). For help and information write: Consumer Forum, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329.