PETA's Guide to Compassionate Living

Cruel Mutilation Even more shocking is the widespread practice of “mulesing” in Australia, one of the world’s biggest wool producers. Farmers mutilate sheep by cutting off large chunks of their skin and flesh in a misguided attempt to prevent flystrike, a condition that occurs when flies lay eggs in the moist folds of sheep’s wrinkly skin. But unlike the humane alternatives, this gruesome procedure often doesn’t even work – many mulesed sheep still die from flystrike.

Live Export: Hellish Sea Journeys As sheep get older, the volume of wool they produce declines. When they’re no longer wanted, they endure transport to grisly abattoirs through all weather

extremes. Others are sent overseas in what is known as “live export”. Millions of sheep from Australia end up being transported to the Middle East on crowded ships – a horrific journey that can last for weeks – often without sufficient food

Remember to Check the Label These materials do not involve cruelty to animals: acrylic, “all man-made materials”, canvas, cotton, denim, down alternative, Gore Tex, linen, “man-made” leather, microfibre, nylon, pleather, Polartec Wind Pro, polyester, polyester fleece, PrimaLoft, rayon, synthetic down, synthetic materials, Tencel, ThermoBall, Thermolite, Thinsulate, twill, and viscose. Where to Shop Whether you buy clothing in high-street shops or small boutiques – or do your shopping online – finding cruelty-free fashion items is easier than ever before. Visit PETA.org.uk for lists, links, and tips.

©Compassion inWorldFarming (CiWF)

and water. If they don’t die on the way, they’re then hauled off to (often unregulated) abattoirs, where their throats are slit while they’re still conscious.

Shearing Abuse The shearing process is usually a violent and terrifying experience for the sheep. Workers are generally paid by volume, not by the hour, which encourages them to work as quickly as possible – shearing

Labelling Schemes Fail Sheep PETA exposés of wool suppliers for some companies that have claimed to have animal-welfare standards and/or buy wool from sustainable suppliers have revealed shocking cruelty. You can view these exposés at PETA.org.uk . It isn’t possible to produce commercial quantities of wool humanely, because markets require a greater amount than all the caring sheep guardians together can possibly contribute from their flocks. Furthermore, selling such items may create demand that then leads to the abuse of sheep in commercial settings.

© Patty Mark/alv.org.au

as many as 200 sheep a day. The resulting rough handling causes frequent injuries to the sheep, even though they’re often deprived of food

and water for 24 hours before they’re shorn so they’ll put up less resistance.

In recent years, PETA and our affiliates have exposed rampant cruelty in shearing sheds across Australia, South America, and the US. In 2018, PETA Asia’s investigations of 25 English and 24 Scottish farms documented that workers abused terrified sheep, including by slamming their heads into the floor, beating and kicking them, and throwing them.

Other Animal-Derived Materials to Avoid

What to Wear A quick check of the labels will help you choose fashionable, comfortable clothing and

Alligator skin • Alpaca • Camel hair • Cashmere • Crocodile skin • Fleece • Goat hair • Karakul lamb fur • Llama wool • Mohair • Ostrich feathers and skin • Pashmina • Peace silk • Shahtoosh • Silk • Snakeskin • Suede • Vicuña • Yak wool

accessories. On the right are some animal-friendly materials to look for when you shop.