Friday, February 23, 2007

Is that fake fur — or is it Fido?

An investigtion by the Humane Society of the United States has found coats whose labels said their trim was "faux fur" actually had trim made from dog fur. Is that fake fur — or is it Fido?, Seattle Times, Feb. 23, 2007.

The article doesn't mention any litigation, but it says that "Intentionally importing and selling dog fur is a federal crime punishable by a $10,000 fine for each violation," and "Mislabeling fur is a misdemeanor punishable by a $5,000 fine or a year in prison. Fur valued at less than $150 is not required to be labeled."

I don't have the time to research it, but I wonder who is responsible for enforcing these laws -- Federal Trade Commission, I'd guess. Have there been any prosecutions?

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