You would think that companies would condemn the practice and refuse to conduct business with such unsavory, cruel people; but J. Crew continues to use Australian sheep as a source for its clothing lines.
Come on, J. Crew—it’s bad enough that you send out a million catalogs to people who don’t want them (our home included) and waste resources in the process. It’s bad enough that you have a history of getting your materials from sweatshop labor and that you’ve discharged company waste into the environment. But mutilating sheep? I doubt that anyone would consciously want to do that—let alone be associated with it. It’s got to be bad for business. Isn’t sheep mutilation something that aliens are supposed to be notorious for, not clothing companies?
Mulesing is a pretty brutal practice. Sheep who are sliced often cannot walk for days because it’s just that painful. Once they’re finally back on their feet again, they still aren’t even able to walk correctly; instead, they move along sideways in crablike fashion in order to help alleviate the pain. Honestly, if you were given the option to protect your child, pet, or other loved one from acquiring an illness and your choices were some nonsurgical means, inoculations, or a violent slash to the skin, which would you choose? Why intentionally make animals suffer (more than we already do) when there are simple preventative measures that can be done?
I also have to wonder at the people who cut the sheep and hear them scream. Do they have nightmares? Are they like The Silence of the Lambs?
Please write to J. Crew today and let them know that you don’t support this cruel and unusual practice. Tell them that if they didn’t know about the practice or understand how violent it is, that’s one thing—but now that they are aware and have customers who want their clothing sourced elsewhere, we want them to make sure that they stop using these violent wool providers until the practice stops.