West Hollywood Fur Sales Ban: California City Becomes First In US To Have Ban; Retailers Sue

A unanimous vote to ban the sale of furs in West Hollywood, that was agreed upon two years ago, became law this week. The sale of wearable furs in the form of any article of clothing is now banned in the city. The ban does not apply to furniture and leather goods. The city has a reputation as an animal-friendly place. They have already banned the retail sale of cats and dogs. Declawing your cat is also banned as well as any wild animal shows. The animal-friendly region prides itself on being a "cruelty-free zone for animals."

While animal lovers are rejoicing over the fur ban, the city's fashion moguls and retail stores are up in arms over the new law. One of the features of Hollywood and West Hollywood is the high-end fashions and the posh clients that wear them. "We've consistently worked to enact cutting edge animal welfare legislation," said West Hollywood city spokeswoman Tamara White to ABC. "This is in line with our values." ABC is also reporting that 50 million animals are raised on fur farms to be killed for their pelts each year.

In 2010, there were 2.82 million mink furs sold in the United States. Utah and Wisconsin are the two leading states in the production of furs. The fur ban is limited only to the sale of the item. People who already own fur or have bought fur in other places can still walk around wearing their coats, hats and whatever other fur products they may have. Retailers angry about the sales ban have decided to sue the city of West Hollywood over the new law.

One retailer, Mayfair House, said they feel the city abused its authority by creating this fur law. The complaint says the decision whether or not to sell fur should be left up to the store owner. According to the Los Angeles Times, Mayfair House outlined their argument in a five-count complaint. The fashion retailer says the fur ban violates the state and U.S. constitutions. The lawmakers in West Hollywood are standing behind their ban. If a retailer is fined more than three times in a year for selling fur they will face a misdemeanor charge.

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