2nd Mink Fur Farm in BC Canada Experiencing Outbreak of Covid

​www.msn.com/en-ca/news/science/b-c-mink-farmer-decides-to-destroy-1-000-animals-after-positive-covid-19-tests/ar-BB1cv13a?li=AAggXBV

A second mink fur farm in British Columbia Canada, has made the decision to euthanize the remaining 1, 000 mink on the farm after a continued outbreak of the coronavirus. Although the Fraser Valley breeder was not instructed to do so, the decision was made after several mink had tested positive for the virus. This is the second fur farm in British Columbia experiencing an outbreak in a string of fur farms across the globe euthanizing mink after outbreaks. 

While this isn't the worst of the outbreaks on our planet, it is yet another example of why mink fur-farming is an industry that needs to go. It is wholly evident that mink fur-farms are incredibly susceptible to virus outbreaks. It was also reported that the mink were mutating the virus and were able to transfer the mutated virus back to humans, potentially causing an issue with vaccinations. This evidence proves that mink fur-farms are unsafe and put both humans and mink in grave danger of becoming infected. Secondly, it puts mink in grave danger of mass euthanizing to prevent transmission. 

The worst of these outbreaks occurred in Denmark, Europe's top producer of mink fur. After a mutated form of the virus was discovered in mink, the decision was swift to euthanize over 15 million mink, decimating the mink fur industry in the country. It also lead to a complete ban on mink fur-farming until the end of 2021, dashing any hopes of rebuilding the industry immediately. Complications from the mass euthanizing and burial of mink have caused serious environmental concerns among other issues. These decision to euthanize were hurried to protect humans but never once took into consideration the devastation the mink themselves endured.

We cannot overlook the facts in this situation, and that is that these fur farms are a cesspool for virus development and transmission. Outbreak after outbreak demonstrates a clear flaw in the industry, one that puts both mink and humans at risk of serious illness. How can we ignore that these fur farms are being ravaged by this virus? How can we ignore that there is a possibility that this could happen again? While this pandemic has been one of a kind in my lifetime, it doesn't mean it won't happen again and when it does, mink fur-farms will feel the effects.

We need to take this as a learning experience, one that hopefully opens our eyes to the dangers of the fur-farming industry and complete lack of necessity for fur. Millions of dollars and millions of mink were lost this year, this should be what motivates us moving forward to end mink fur-farming once and for all. The resources needed to rebuild an industry that has suffered so tremendously because of this pandemic will be astronomical. We need to look at how quickly this industry can be taken down and recognize that not only is it unnecessary, but it's a financial risk to continue. Funnel the resources intended to rebuild the industry to other farming initiatives and end fur-farming. 

We have enough evidence now to know better. We have enough proof that mink fur-farming is dangerous and frankly, a ticking time-bomb. We now know the potential for disaster and just how devastating that can be. We have to learn from this and recognize that we must ban fur-farming or we will undoubtedly see this happen again and the mink will be the ones who suffer the most. If we rebuild this industry after the devastation it endured, we deserve every horrible outcome that comes our way because of it.

HAPPY VEG