This is an unusually wordy post but it is important to me and I hope you'll take a moment to read it. The boyfriend just called to tell me that he read an article about J. Crew and the fact that they support mulesing. I had never heard of this practice so I looked it up & sent a letter to the CEO of J.Crew urging him to take action against mulesing. If you love animals as much as I do, I ask that you please take a moment to do the same.
I am done shopping at J. Crew until they stop supporting this horrific practice. I actually had an order in my cart that I will not be placing. And you can hold me to this. I stopped eating fish when I was 9 because I had a fish and it seemed wrong to eat a pet. I never ate fish again. If you saw the post I published this morning, you may recall that it was all about J.Crew. This post has been removed. It is almost 2012 and there is no reason that animals should be treated this way. All chickens should be cage free. Puppy mills should not exist. The list goes on.
And I have to say it -- please please please adopt a rescue instead of going to a breeder. I know that most people want puppies or a specific breed but as you know, Buddy is a rescue and I got him when he was just a pup. If we're being honest, Chihuahuas are probably one of my least favorite breeds. I almost didn't get him because of this, but his leg was broken and he needed me. I am almost in tears just thinking of his story. He was hit by a car, broke his leg, dropped off at the pound and put on the list to be euthanized [i.e. killed] at just a few months old. A rescue organization picked him up, I adopted him and a space freed up so they could rescue another animal.
To be clear, when I speak of getting a Frenchie, this dog would 100% be a rescue. There are breed specific rescues all over the place! I will never go to a breeder.
If you have a dog from a breeder, I am sure your dog is lovely. If I met your dog I'd probably love him/her. I would certainly not judge anyone. I just feel that rescues need homes and it is our responsibility to help them.
This is one of the reasons I love Lea Michele so much. Sure -- she's crazy talented, but she is also a vegan and is always tweeting about something relating to animals. She uses her fame for something important. Consider blogging about something near and dear to your heart this week. I know it's fun to post about fashion, interiors and things we love [I do this all the time] but we have an opportunity to bring awareness to something. Why not use it?
Skipping the gym to spend the evening cuddling with my sweet, handsome and loving little rescue pup. I may have saved him, but he changed my life and is my best pal. Rescuing Buddy was one of the best things I ever did. Just look at this face!
If you made it this far, thank you!
Please tell me what you are passionate about! I want to know all about it.
amen, sista.
ReplyDeletewell said. this is absolutely horrific. j crew needs to stop immediately.
i will not comment regarding breeders. unacceptable.
Danielle, I'm a vegetarian and have been for almost 12 years. I don't eat meat, poultry, fish, anything that has a face. Why? Because I believe that the fact that we have the ability to kill and eat a living entity is just an abuse of power. Only because we can do so does not justifies the action.
ReplyDeleteI just read your tweet and I can't believe it. Why don't we start an online bloggers movement? Why don't we create a button or badge and place it on our blogs until they stop? I'm all up to it.
Thank you for bringing this to my attention. As a J.Crew lover myself, I am embarrassed I had no idea this was happening. Now I'm disgusted. I am on the same page as you with rescue dog adoption, etc. and cannot believe J.Crew!! Letter SENT!
ReplyDeleteso glad you brought this up! its important to be aware!
ReplyDeletexx,
tara
www.thewondergirl.com
danielle i totally commend you for standing up for what you believe in and for using this awesome platform that you have to share your knowledge. i know you're a j.crew fan so double kudos for being able to stop shopping at one of your faves.
ReplyDeletedespite being a non-veg i am an animal lover and agree with you that in this day and age no animals deserve this type of treatment.
hopefully this will shed light on the practice and j.crew will listen to its consumers.
Oh my gosh, this disgusts me. I also had items in my shopping cart, and my bf, Ashley, works at J.Crew. I wonder if she knows this.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Gaby! Create a badge! I will put it on my page for sure!
i admittedly knew nothing about this. thanks for sharing, danielle
ReplyDeleteThat's terrible. I sent the letter!
ReplyDeleteThis news totally blows my mind, I am all about a badge for this movement.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea! Thank you for posting this so that everyone can be aware! I'm so disappointed in J.Crew.
ReplyDeleteI am so shocked and saddened by this! I'm about to read the article in it's entirety but this is just insane.
ReplyDeleteThank you for making us all aware and though I don't shop at j.crew much, it certainly won't be happening until this is done!
And I am with you 150% about rescues! We rescued our 2nd dog and she is the sweetest thing in the entire world. Such a great dog and every dog needs a 2nd chance.
Great post!
ReplyDeleteDanielle thank you for this post. This is really important for people to know. I'm going to spread the word asap.
ReplyDeleteI am passionate about my rescues. Passionate. In January of 2011, we lost our black lab mix, Ruger. He was the next to be euthanized when we adopted him. He gave us 11wonderful years. I am still tearing up - I miss him so much. In March, we again began 'the search'. I knew I didn't want a big, black dog because I felt I needed something different. We have 4 older rescue cats and a mature 108 pound shepherd. SO, shock of shocks, I too got a puppy mill rescue.....chihuahua. She has been so mistreated for 3 years. I feel so sorry for this little lady. She is just now coming to me, and only me, when I call. Still cowers. The other pets don't phase her which was huge to me. I too am going to boycot J. Crew. The best word of advertising is word of mouth and baby, I got a big one.....
ReplyDeleteI think the way you're using your blog here is so commendable ~ THANK you for writing about something you find important and informing others!
ReplyDeleteNooooo JCreeeeew! whyyyyyy????
ReplyDeleteSo grateful for you to take time to post about this and what you stand so strongly for!!
I've been wanting to create awareness about child abuse/molestation but not exactly sure how to go about it. Trying to do more research and find ways to help in creating awareness and solutions for this issue <3
I am totally crushed by this - certainly puts a damper on my new wool jcrew coat! I sent my letter through PETA , and can't thank you enough for sharing. As an owner of a rescue pup myself, thank you for always promoting adoption!
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing, i love to find other bloggers interested about animal welfare and sharing their concerns in an intelligent and graceful way. thank you again.
ReplyDeleteAhh, this is what you meant in your text. Unbelievable. Truly - noone should get away with that treatment of animals. Communities that are made aware of it through this post will definitely be more apt to take action. AND I love buddy, so glad you rescued him. I'm definitely a proponent of rescue vs. breeder. Poor animals deserve a happy home where they are loved and taken care of especially after being abandoned. I want another pup. xo
ReplyDeletethere are a lot of groups that support this practice-remember there are 2 sides to every story. Regardless, I will continue to shop at Jcrew. I also eat fish and meat and will continue to buy fur and wear leather because it's natural and part of the cycle of life. Jesus wasn't a vegetarian and most likely wore hides and fur to keep warm. You celebrate christmas, so clearly you believe in jesus-was jesus wrong and a horrible person? I love animals too and do not support abuse, however animals serve many purposes for human survival and existence. Like medical testing for example. You or your loved ones might not die of a form of cancer solely because of medical testing on animals. So if you take ANY medications at all in your life-know that animals suffered and died during drug trials. you're worried about eating fish because it could be a pet then I surely hope you're not a hypocrite and take medication. To tell people to stop shopping at jcrew because you're against a practice is ignorant and irresponsible, they employ thousands of people who need to work and pay their bills.
ReplyDeleteyes - thank you SO much for sticking to your beliefs! we just rescued a puppy from the local SPCA... and i'm 2 months meat-free!
ReplyDeletein the words of Helen Keller - -
"I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do."
Thank you for bringing this issue to my attention — so disappointed in J.Crew.
ReplyDeleteAnd I am with you 100% on rescues. Every dog in my life has been a rescue, whether from a shelter or from people who no longer wanted them, and they have been the most amazing dogs. It breaks my heart to think of what might have happened if they had not come to our family. When I am ready for my own dog, it will be a rescue, no question.
Thank you so much for posting this about mulesing. I am vegan and I also happen to enjoy shopping and being fashionable. The vast majority of the lifestyle/fashion blogs out there never make any mention of the issues regarding leather, wool, silk, and other animal products. When they post a pair of "beautiful" leather shoes, all I see is the skin of a dead animal who died needlessly. I want to look cute, but not at the sake of my values or compassion, and that is not a good enough reason to cause pain, suffering, or environmental harm.
ReplyDeleteWhile I don't expect everyone to be vegetarian or vegan, I don't think it is much to ask to research what goes into what you're paying your hard-earned money for, and ask yourself if it's truly worth it. And it seems everyone and their sister is in love with J Crew these days, so kudos to you for going against the tide and standing up for something you believe in.
Hi Katie,
ReplyDeleteIf there are groups who support the practice of removing chunks of flesh from an animal without any painkillers, I suspect it is because they profit from the wool industry.
There is nothing natural about humans wearing the skin or fur of another animal when it is not necessary. It's natural for THEM to wear it.
We do not live in the time of Jesus. We live during this time. Why would we base our daily decisions on circumstances that don't apply to our lives? We now have synthetic materials and natural materials such as cotton and the ability to manufacture it available to us that were not available thousands of years ago. Let's make better and more compassionate decisions as we gain more knowledge.
Accusing someone of being a hypocrite because they are simply trying to do their best and reduce any suffering where they are able to is a weak argument. No system in the world is perfect, not veganism or any other. But there are those who refuse to just sit back and do nothing because they can't do everything. Do something, ANYTHING. It makes a difference.
Danielle, thank you for sharing. That is horrific and so sad. Thank you for posting... I agree and absolutely support rescue adoption. We have two beautiful dogs from a rescue center and they are the best/smartest pups I have ever met. I cannot support you enough and thank you again!
ReplyDeletexoxo,
Nikki
response to KATHY-
ReplyDeleteI never said I support mulesing, in fact i said I am against animal abuse. However if you actually research why they do it, there was a purpose for it and i agree it should be stopped, but to try and start some kind of boycott of jcrew, who employs thousands, in a bad economy is irresponsible. Your comment about wearing fur and skins isn't natural, I simply disagree and synthetic fabrics cause more damage to the environment. And you're right we don't live in the times of jesus, you missed my point. Vegetarians like to claim and preach that eating animals is wrong, my point is jesus ate them and they had plenty of grains available during those times. God created animals for many purposes, like food, medicine, warmth, etc... You do know animals eat other animals in nature-it's called the food chain and thus the cycle of life. I didn't call her a hypocrite for "doing her best", I said I hope she's not a hypocrite and takes medication. It IS hypocritical to preach about animal abuse, but pick and choose WHEN animal abuse is ok to fit your needs-like medicine. If You don't want to wear or eat animals-that's good for you. But to act like you have higher values or are more compassionate is absurd.I love animals and do not support abuse. I also have a rescue dog and donate a lot of money to a no-kill humane organization yearly. I'm thankful to God for animals because they provide food, clothing, advanced medicine, companionship and so on. I do not pick and choose when it's appropriate to use animals for different purposes. With that said, I enjoy this blog, I hope everyone has a merry christmas, but I had to speak up because I'm tired of vegetarians preaching and acting superior in compassion and values.
cue the waterworks. thank you SO MUCH for bringing this to my attention. i will be dumping j.crew until this practice has ended! And preach on about rescues! My rescue guy just turned 4 last week and they have been the best 4 years. I get all teary-eyed just thinking about him.
ReplyDeleteI know that this is a delayed reply but it is not hypocritical to support a practice where animals are tortured when they do not need to be -- for a sweater. I am not saying that all leather bags/shoes should stop being made. I am saying that jcrew should step it up, stop supporting this practice and not torture innocent sheep for convenience.
ReplyDelete