Apparel maker Patagonia stops buying Ovis 21 wool after PETA video

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

Mon Aug 17, 2015 9:15pm EDT
Apparel maker Patagonia stops buying Ovis 21 wool after PETA video
By Marty Graham


Aug 17 Outdoor clothing maker Patagonia said on Monday it has stopped buying wool from the Ovis 21 network of farms in Argentina after U.S. animal rights activists released video of workers there slashing and stabbing lambs with knives.

The footage published on Thursday by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) showed the cruel treatment at farms which supplied the Ventura, California-based company with merino wool used in its base layers and insulation.

Patagonia's Chief Executive Officer Rose Marcario said in a statement the company was shocked by the video, and they were dismayed to witness such "horrifying" mistreatment.

"We've made a frank and open-eyed assessment of the Ovis program," Marcario said. "Our conclusion: it is impossible to ensure immediate changes to objectionable practices on Ovis 21 ranches, and we have therefore made the decision that we will no longer buy wool from them."

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/18/usa-peta-patagonia-idUSL1N10S24220150818?rpc=401

[RKP5637]

1. Excellent! n/t

[forest444]

2. What's worse, according to the video this is just as common in U.S. and Australian sheep farms.

http://www.inquisitr.com/2343501/lambs-skinned-alive-and-mutilated-on-patagonia-farms/

My great-great grandfather owned a sheep ranch in Argentina in the early 1900s, and from what I've heard from my mom and grandparents shearing was certainly a lot more paced and humane back then.

Since it seems to be a worldwide problem, what we need is a certification system similar to animal testing-free labels. They won't be 100% of course, but they'll make things a lot better.

[Tumbulu]

4. In the US, we have two different certified humane standards for sheep

and they are both quite good. Hoping that some of these big retailers start supporting those of us who raise our animals to those standards.

The trouble is that being humane costs more money for the producer. And the world of commerce always wants the best deal.

And producing purely wool sheep such as a merino is not also a meat animal. This is incorrect in this discussion. There are indeed some "dual purpose" sheep breeds. But merino's are not one of them. People tend to eat a merino if something is wrong with it. But one does not make money on the sale of it's meat. Meat breeds produce a good 20 lbs more meat per animal, while the wool breeds do not produce much muscle at all, just wool.

[dhill926]

3. And they just came out with a special catalog …

Touting this wool. That's a quick turnaround. Good for them.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

5. We need more

companies with conscience

[hugo_from_TN]

6. And to stop selling wool

Hopefully the will be lucky and nobody videos their other suppliers.

[robinlynne]

11. There is no need to hurt sheep to sell wool. Wool has been sheared for hundreds of years

humanely.

[ciaobaby]

7. Good Job PETA

Hopefully all the PETA haters on this site will crawl back in their holes and spare us their bullshit rants about how awful PETA is. If not for PETA this cruelty would be left unchecked cause nobody else cares nearly as much.
Thank you PETA !!!!!

[Judi Lynn]

8. Thanks for your comment. Clearly help was desperately needed for this evil situation.

It's a horror it has happened at all.

So glad Peta was able, despite all the resistance from those who believe they have the right to inflict suffering upon helpless, terrified, suffering creatures, to call this to the world's attention.

Welcome to D.U.

[dembotoz]

9. Does not seem logical to damage the renewable resource that puts food on ur table

Like a apple grower cutting down trees at end of harvest

[alarimer]

10. PETA's videos are no more factual than the anti-Planned Parenthood video.

I would not change anything based only on that.

They are known to lie and stretch the truth about this subject:

http://www.veggieboards.com/forum/12-animal-rights-welfare/175114-peta-s-new-anti-wool-campaign.html

[Darb]

12. So you're relying one an anonymous post on a message board?

The very next post refutes it.

[City Lights]

13. Great news!

WTG, Patagonia! Hope more do the same.