President Bush: Pardon the Beaver!

PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk fired off a letter to President Bush after learning that a hatmaker in Greeley, Colorado, has been commissioned to create a beaver-fur cowboy hat for his January 20th inauguration ceremony (to read the letter, click here).

Beavers are gentle, inquisitive, family-oriented animals who mate for life and remain friends with their children. Beavers can live to be 20 years old and are expert architects—their complex, sturdy lodges can stand for years. They constantly maintain their homes, taking obvious pride in their work, and are even known to enjoy flute music. Female beavers are especially busy as they care for their young while also looking after their rambunctious “teenagers.”

Body-gripping traps used to kill beavers cause them immeasurable suffering. In many cases, the traps fail to catch on target. If the traps do not kill the beavers immediately, they drown slowly, suffering for an excruciating 20 minutes while their family stands by helplessly. Death by drowning is extremely cruel—even the American Veterinary Medical Association condemns it—and such torturous treatment of a dog or cat would merit charges of cruelty to animals.

Click here to watch video footage.

Please inform President Bush that you object to killing beavers and other animals for fur. He and his family share the White House with two companion dogs, Barney and Miss Beazley. Politely remind the president that beavers feel pain just as these dogs do and that all animals deserve our compassion, not just the ones with whom we live.

The President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.
Washington, DC 20500
president@whitehouse.gov
202-456-1111 (White House comment line)
202-456-2461 (fax)

Visit FurIsDead.com for more information on why wearing fur is cruel.