The big cover up a5 leaflet

Most leather comes from cattle; both dairy and beef cattle hides are turned into leather after the animal is slaughtered.

Millions of cattle are killed each year in the UK. Beef cattle are bred to eat, get big and die. They are slaughtered while still young and their lives are completely under human control.

LEATHER

Dairy cows are forced to spend their lives in a constant cycle of pregnancy and milking – often at the same time.

These naturally maternal animals have their calves taken Leather’s a bloody business away shortly after birth; they will never see them again. A lifetime as a milk machine takes its toll upon the dairy cow – painful infections such as mastitis are common along with lameness and infertility. By buying leather, you are supporting the meat industry and allowing this brutal treatment to continue.

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You can end your part in this cruelty by boycotting leather, fur, wool and silk. There are loads of great alternatives available; please visit www.thebigcoverup.org.uk for a list of suppliers and to find out more about The Big Cover Up.

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H C U M W HO G N I D I H S I PAIN R U O Y E D I S IN WARDROBE?

After slaughter, sheep are skinned at the slaughterhouse

cut off the blood supply until eventually it falls off. Male lambs endure a similar method of castration. Both of these procedures are carried out with no anaesthetic and the lambs suffer great pain and distress as a result.

WOOL

A seemingly idyllic scene: sheep grazing in the field, their lambs gamboling close by. However, if you look closer you will uncover a world of neglect. Most sheep suffer throughout their short lives and are slaughtered while still young. Millions of lambs freeze to death every year in Britain.

Many lambs are subjected to tail docking; the most commonly used method is to place a rubber band around the tail, to

Metal clippers used for shearing the wool often hurt the sheep; it is common for the animals to be clipped by the blades.

Shearers are paid per unit of wool and often pay little attention to animal welfare; this can cause the sheep great amounts of stress. To avoid wool loss, many farmers shear the sheep too early and many sheep die from exposure to extreme weather. People mistakenly believe that the wool in their jumper comes from live sheep, whereas in fact some wool is stripped from dead sheep at the slaughterhouse.

A silkworm factory farm in Vietnam

Whilst fur farming itself is banned in Britain, it is not illegal to import fur.

The UK fur market is worth millions of pounds every year.

Most of the world’s fur originates from farms where essentially wild animals are caged and are unable to carry out their natural behaviours. Around 50 million animals are killed each year for their fur.

Rabbit, mink and fox are the most commonly bred animals.

FUR

China is the biggest exporter of fur and has absolutely no laws to protect animals.

Beautiful white arctic foxes and mink are kept in totally barren cages barely bigger than they are – one to a cage – row after row – continually pacing round in circles.

Millions of rabbits are killed for their fur every year

Wild animals, such as arctic foxes, will spend their whole lives in cages

Animals raised in fur farms suffer great amounts of anxiety. Some animals will become so distressed that they self mutilate. In China, animals are often skinned whilst fully conscious, the pain for the animal is unimaginable. The cruel fur trade has no place in a civilised society.

Some wool comes from dead sheep

Moths are boiled alive in their cocoons

SILK

Millions of silkworms are killed each year for the silk industry. Silk is the name given to a soft fabric made from the fine thread produced by certain moths.

Most silkworms are killed while fully conscious inside their cocoons.

Commonly, moths are placed in scalding water and boiled alive. The moth is conscious throughout this process, no pain relief is provided. Hundreds of silkworms are killed for just one silk scarf or tie.

Photo©Swiss Animal Protection

Many of us share our homes with animals; if you love them, shouldn’t you love all animals? Sadly, many people are unaware of the animal cruelty that lurks inside their wardrobe. Innocent animals suffer at the hands of the fashion industry, but this barbaric treatment goes unnoticed by most consumers. Millions of animals each year are subjected to neglect, pain and mental breakdown, and are slaughtered while still young.

This is The Big Cover Up.

Photo©CAFT

, R U F , L O O W D N A R E H T A LE SILK KILL