Animal Liberation News

Animal Liberation graphicFur Farmers Release Guide to Prepare for ALF Raid Season

Fur Farmers Release Guide to Prepare for ALF Raid Season

The Fur Commission website is full of information for fur farmers of America, including classic definitions like this one, that assure the farmers that they are protected by the US Government:

ECOTERRORISM: ”The FBI defines eco-terrorism as the use or threatened use of violence of a criminal nature against innocent victims or property by an environmentally-oriented, subnational group for environmental-political reasons, or aimed at an audience beyond the target, often of a symbolic nature.” James F. Jarboe, Domestic Terrorism Section Chief, Counterterrorism Division, FBI; Testimony to the House Resources Committee, Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health, Feb. 12, 2002.

The Commission also warn farmers that, “Historically, June is the beginning of “fur farm raiding season,” when mink born in March mature to a state where they can be liberated. To prepare, the Fur Commission USA is distributing a two-page document titled ‘Trespass Season Is Coming. Are You Ready?,'” to help mink farmers prepare for possible raids by the Animal Liberation Front. The concern over ALF raids is well-warranted. Since 1995, there have been over 90 raids on fur farms across the US.  A (well-done) chart included in the flier traces the rise and fall of ALF fur farm raids, from the peak of 1997 and 1998, to a whole year without a documented action in 2006, to another small surge in 2008 (and 2011, not shown in the chart). See the flyer, page 1 and page 2.

Fur Commission Chart documenting farm raids from 1996 till 2010.

On Page 2 the Fur Commission tells fur farmers: “Should your farm be hit by terrorists, call 911. This is an emergency.” This is, of course, a difference of opinion. The emergency is certainly the need to free the animals, empty the cages and cost the farmers as much money as possible so we can put them out of business!

Animal Liberation Frontline obtains confidential “security alert” detailing the hacking of the Fur Commission USA website.

For over 8 hours on Thursday night, August 9th and Friday morning, August 10th, the website for the Fur Commission USA went nearly blank, and the main page was replaced with the message “Destroying the Fur Industry Piece by Piece – A.L.F.”

Animal Liberation Frontline has obtained the bulletin shared by the Fur Commission USA, not intended to be read by the general public, which gives the following insights into the hack: “What is evident is, that our opponents monitor our sites constantly and when a vulnerability is discovered, attack immediately.”

And boosting their safety net provided by the government: “The perpetrators, when discovered, can and will be prosecuted under the AETA (Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act).”

Keep up the good work animal liberators! Stay safe, stay silent! Till every cage is empty! Check out this recent action:

Thirteen Foxes Liberated From a Fur Farm in Northern Virginia

On August 5th, the ALF emptied a small fur farm approximately two hours from Washington DC. All 13 foxes on the farm were released. According to the communique posted by the North American Animal Liberation Press Office, the ALF also damaged equipment at the farm. The farm bordered Shenandoah National Park, where the foxes returned to their natural habitat.

The full communique reads:

“On the night of August 5, the Animal Liberation Front visited the only known fur farm in the state of Virginia, Scott Dean’s D&S Fox Farm in Elkton. We opened every one of the few cages at D&S, giving thirteen beautiful foxes a chance at new lives in the nearby Shenandoah National Park. As we watched a few of them immediately scurry off to freedom, we damaged the machinery that allows Dean to continue his day-to-day operation confining and torturing these sensitive creatures. Dean, it appears that this is a hobby providing you only supplementary income – it is our commitment to free your prisoners and cost you more than you make until you shut down. To those nationwide who also seek justice for the innocent, your nearest fur farm is at most a state away. Take action for animals. -ALF”

After ALF Raid, Source Puts Fox Farm Damages at $25,000

Although mainstream media has yet to pick up the story, there is other information Animal Liberation Frontline has learned about the fox liberation that happened last week: One source apparently close to the farma’s owner is reporting damages from the Virginia fox farm raid at $25,000 to $30,000. In addition to liberating 13 foxes, the Animal Liberation Front stated they also “damaged machinery” at the farm.

Owner Scott Dean is a trapper and member of the Virginia State Trapper’s Association (VTA), National Trappers Association (NTA), and Fur Takers of America (FTA). In addition to the fox farm, Dean also owns “D&S Nuisance Animal Control” out of the same address. Hiswebsitedescribes the company as providing the following services: “animal capture, animal removal, animal control, animal trapping, animal exclusion, animal damage repairs, animal waste cleanup, and more.”

Among the “nuisance” animals Dean will capture are foxes. This raises the question: Rather than “humanely” euthanizing the foxes other people pay him to capture (as he promises on his site), does he instead sell them for fur?

If so, this is almost certainly in violation of his National Wildlife Control Operators Association membership at best, and against the law at worst. Dean’s business live-trapping wildlife on other people’s property would provide him a steady stream of animals that aren’t just free – other people are paying him to take them. While we can’t know for certain, Dean’s dual work as a fur farmer and “wildlife pest removal” provider would seem to pose an inherent conflict of interest.

Compiled from:  The North American Animal Liberation Front Press Office, Animal Liberation Frontline and Fur Commission USA by Nettle