Contact: Julie Massa, julie@idausa.org, 415-448-0048 x232

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA (September 5, 2019) – In Defense of Animals is proud to welcome The Wildlife Protection Act of 2019 (AB 273) which has been signed into law to prohibit all fur trapping in the state of California!

“We are so grateful to Governor Newsom and Assemblywoman Gonzalez for protecting coyotes, mink, foxes, beavers, raccoons, badgers, and all (California animals/animals living in California) from barbaric traps.” Fleur Dawes of In Defense of Animals. “This is a victory for animals and for all Californians who spoke out in the thousands to protect animals from extreme cruelty of fur trapping. California is sending the world a clear statement: fur-bearing animals have the right to live in their own skin, free from being maimed and killed by horrific traps to steal their fur for trivial “fashion” statements. We urge lawmakers to honor the shift in public consciousness and pass AB 44 to ban the sales of cruel fur products throughout California.”

California Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez introduced Assembly Bill 273 to outlaw commercial and recreational trapping on both public and private lands. Governor Gavin Newsom signed this groundbreaking legislation into law on Wednesday, making California the first state in the country to enact such a ban.

Coyotes, mink, foxes, beavers, raccoons, badgers, and various other species are trapped and have their skins stolen to produce trivial “fashion” statements, such as fur trim, coats, and accessories.

Although a recent leg hold ban was passed in California, fur trappers in the state have used box traps, nets, and cages to capture unsuspecting animals. Mobile gas chambers, manual strangulation, and anal electrocution have often been used to kill the animals they have trapped without damaging their pelts. Now, California has banned these cruel and unnecessary trapping methods statewide! 

In Defense of Animals campaigned tirelessly to push this lifesaving legislation forward, along with the bill’s co-sponsors Social Compassion in Legislation and the Center for Biological Diversity. In Defense of Animals supporters made hundreds of calls and signed thousands of letters to protect fur-bearing animals from suffering. The North Bay nonprofit is celebrating this momentous victory for animal activists and for fur-bearing animals in California.

California lawmakers are also considering a bill to ban the sales of fur statewide. AB 44 will be voted on by the Senate next week. In Defense of Animals and its partners in the Make Fur History coalition plan to unveil a giant scroll bearing thousands of signatures of support for the bill on the steps of the State Capitol.

Take action to end fur at www.furkills.org

Please contact Julie Massa with any questions at 415-448-0048 x232 or Julie@idausa.org.   

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In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization with over 250,000 supporters and a 30-year history of fighting for animals, people and the environment through education, campaigns and hands-on rescue facilities in India, Africa, and rural Mississippi. 

IN DEFENSE OF ANIMALS • 3010 KERNER BLVD. • SAN RAFAEL, CA 94901 • 415-448-0048