Furry issue resolved for Thurso Players as old garments are donated

A local animal rights activist helped a Thurso amateur drama group deal with its outdated wardrobe of animal furs.

Over many years, Thurso Players has received donations of fur coats and jackets but, more recently, the club has turned down further donations because performers do not want to wear real fur and the wardrobe managers feel uncomfortable asking actors to do so.

Furthermore, furs take up a great deal of space and have to be carefully looked after, placing a further burden on the wardrobe area.

With the permission of the drama club's committee, Christina Doake who is a current wardrobe manager, consulted the website of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) and contacted local representative, Natalie Oag, to find out how best to make use of the furs in an ethical way.

Natalie said: "Think of the horrific conditions these poor animals lived in and were bred into – darkness, living in wire cages, starving, covered in their own faeces, undernourished, infected eyes and riddled with disease. Unloved and treated like an object of abuse. Often hit and finally death is the only escape from this living hell. Which is yet another ordeal. A barbaric death, often including being skinned while alive."

Conscious of the fact that animals died to create the garments, Natalie suggested offering them to SSPCA animal rescue facilities where they can be used for bedding. The possible solution will be followed up by contacting Balmore Animal Rescue Centre near Dounreay. Another idea was to find out whether a charity taking aid to Ukraine would be interested in the garments to provide warmth to people suffering the cold weather in the crisis there. The furs can also be used by Peta for education purposes.

While Thurso Players no longer has a use for the garments, it was felt that they were too good to be sent to landfill when they might be of some use helping animals or people. The drama club is also conscious that they were donated in good faith so deserve to be disposed of thoughtfully.

Natalie added: "At least these poor animals never died in vain, they have died helping humankind who are again suffering at Man’s evil hands. Humankind will end up destroying itself as well as the animal planet."

The Peta rep gave a more recent update and said she talked to the Blythswood charity which will collect some of the garments for people in Ukraine. Remaining clothes will be offered to Balmore animal centre.

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