West Hollywood Bans Fur

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Fur Sales End In West Hollywood

Council tentative approval to ban fur sales in West Hollywood irks the Chamber of Commerce. Too bad.

West Hollywood, a small city in California of approximately 1.9  square miles and 36,000 residents are national trendsetters. The municipality is one of the most animal-friendly cities in the country. Pets are formally recognized as “companions” and their owners as “guardians.” So, it’s no surprise that the City Council of West Hollywood became the first city in America to tentatively approve an ordinance banning all apparel made of fur.

Fur retailing will end in West Hollywood

The ordinance banned the sale of apparel made in whole or in part from an animal pelt with hair, wool or fur. Council members acknowledged that shoppers in search of furs can buy them a few blocks away in Beverly Hills.

Dozens of people crowded into the council chambers and gave the City Council a standing ovation following the panel’s vote at 1:15 a.m. After the spirited meeting, City Councilman, John D’Amico, who promoted fur banning during his election campaign, stated This was very exciting, and it was unanimous by this brave and thoughtful City Council.

Although the city was among the first in the United States ban dog and cat sales in stores, most retailers had already ceased the sale of animals prior to the time the ordinance passed. D’Amico stated, This is a tiny city, so it’s mostly symbolic. I think the impact will be heard from here to Fifth Avenue. People will talk about what a fur ban means in a new way..

Ed Buck, volunteer with Fur Free West Hollywood exclaimed I am so proud of my city. He also stated:

We’ve been leaders in animal welfare, and this is just another expression of our values. We are a group of people who express our values in the laws we pass. Not only is it positive for West Hollywood, it’s positive for the entire country. It is largely symbolic.

In 1989, West Hollywood was an animal-cruelty-free zone. And I think it’s very clear, we had a unanimous vote, this is the direction of the City of West Hollywood—we are expressing our humane values.”

West Hollywood has a tradition of expressing our values in the laws we pass,” said Buck, citing examples of past citywide efforts to become a “cruelty-free zone.”

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Animal rights advocates call the fur ban a landmark victory. Other previous animal ordinances passed without much controversy. However, the fur ban pits the city’s animal rights lobby against its powerful high-fashion community.

The Chamber of Commerce and the retail area, the Avenues opposed the ordinance. President and CEO of the chamber told press she’s received several angry calls from retailers. It’s pretty heated right now. People are pretty upset. We feel it’s not only unconstitutional but arbitrary and capricious, and it’s selectively banning products from one industry versus another,

Retailers are enraged. Keith Kaplan, executive director of the Fur Information Council of America, said his group commissioned an economic study, which found that 46%of apparel retailers in West Hollywood sold fur, and more than 7% said they would relocate their business if the ban passes.

The animal rights lobby is clearly not having the impact they hope for with customers. People are still buying fur. If people were not buying it, stores wouldn’t want to sell it. So the animal rights lobby is trying to force through a ban on a legal product. Yesterday three primary fashion houses contacted their attorneys to terminate their leases within the City of West Hollywood.

Baby Fox Humane Society

The council must decide on a start date for the ban and if the ordinance should include used clothing. D’Amico proposed next June 30 as a start date. The council is open to addressing business owners’ concerns. The councilman said the city is conducting a financial impact study prior to the final vote, but expects minimal effect on retailers.

West Hollywood has a long history defending animals. In 1989, the City Council passed a resolution that the city would be “cruelty-free zone for animals.” It banned cosmetic testing on animals and the use of steel leg-hold traps. In 2003, West Hollywood became the first city in the country to ban cat declawing. Last year, it passed an ordinance prohibiting the retail sale of cats and dogs.

The ordinance still has a few steps before it will become a law in West Hollywood. The language of the law must be finalized and it has to be given a final public reading; but with an already unanimous reception from the city council, the ordinance is likely to become law.


Mad Mike’s America thanks The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, and Southern California public radio stations.


Is the fur ban purely political? Will it negatively affect local businesses? Will other cities follow suit and force fashion designers and manufacturers stand up and take notice of anti-fur sentiment?

About Post Author

Dorothy Anderson

I want to know what you think and why, especially if we disagree. Civil discourse is free speech: practice daily. Always question your perspective.
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Barry West
12 years ago

The fur issue is like the drug issue, ivory, and etc. As long as there is a demand there will be a supply.

Reply to  Barry West
12 years ago

Too true, Barry…

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