The world is facing an urgent and overlooked threat that could ignite the next global health crisis. Fur farms across the globe—including those in the U.S., China, and Europe—are breeding grounds for deadly viruses that put public safety at immediate risk. Recent research has revealed dozens of high-risk viruses, such as coronaviruses and avian influenza strains, circulating within these farms¹. These viruses, many newly identified, can jump to humans with alarming ease, creating a direct pathway to the next pandemic.

The fur industry’s unethical practices fuel this danger. Millions of animals, including mink, raccoon dogs, and Arctic foxes, suffer in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions on fur farms². These environments are perfect for viruses to thrive and mutate. Cross-species infections are already happening, with viruses leaping from wild animals to farmed species and back to humans³.

The Global Health and Ethical Crisis

Fur farms across many countries, including those in the U.S., pose an enormous risk to global public health. These operations are breeding grounds for the next pandemic. Beyond coronaviruses, avian influenza strains like H5N6 have been detected in mink and other fur animals, significantly increasing the threat⁴. The likelihood of these viruses mutating and spreading is a ticking time bomb, endangering human lives everywhere.

The cross-species transmission that happens on fur farms multiplies the risk of deadlier viral strains emerging. Experts have compared the viral risks of fur farms to those posed by live animal markets³. These farms are not only ethical disasters—they are public health hazards that endanger everyone.

We Must Act Now

The U.S. has a moral and public health obligation to end its reliance on imported fur from any foreign source. Continuing to support these global fur farms puts U.S. citizens at risk and fuels inhumane practices. Some countries have already banned fur farming due to these risks, but the U.S. continues to import millions of dollars' worth of fur from high-risk operations¹.

Public health experts and advocates for animal rights are calling for immediate government action to ban fur imports from all foreign sources and impose stricter regulations on fur products. By halting U.S. business with global fur farms, we reduce the risk of deadly virus outbreaks and pressure industries to adopt ethical, humane alternatives.

A Safer, Compassionate Future Is Possible

We must act now before it’s too late. The longer we depend on fur imports, the greater the chance we face another devastating pandemic. We cannot afford to ignore this growing threat. By stopping the flow of fur from dangerous farms worldwide, we will protect public health, save countless lives, and set a global example for ethical trade and humane practices.

We call on the Secretary of Commerce, the U.S. Trade Representative, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to ban all fur imports until these health and ethical threats are fully addressed. The U.S. must lead the way in protecting public safety and ending animal cruelty.

Sign the petition now to demand immediate action.

More on this issue:

1. Humane Society International (5 September 2024), "Scientists Raise Alarm Over Public Health Dangers of the Fur Trade."
2. Jon Cohen, Science (5 September 2024), "Animals Farmed for Fur Harbor Dozens of Concerning Viruses."
3. Jin Zhao, Wenbo Wan, Kang Yu, Philippe Lemey, John H.-O. Pettersson, Yuhai Bi, Meng Lu, Xinxin Li, Zhuohang Chen, Mengdi Zheng, Ge Yan, JianJun Dai, Yuxing Li, Ayidana Haerheng, Na He, Changchun Tu, Marc A. Suchard, Edward C. Holmes, Wan-Ting He & Shuo Su, Nature (2024), "Farmed Fur Animals Harbor Viruses with Zoonotic Spillover Potential."
4. Hugo Francisco de Souza, News Medical (9 September 2024), "Chinese Farmed Fur Animals Found to Harbor Dozens of Novel Viruses."