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Animal Rights Group Gives Fur Coats to Homeless
Updated: Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2005 - 4:42 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) - They've spent years burning fur coats and tossing paint at people wearing them. But Wednesday, an animal rights group tried something completely different - handing out dozens of furs to homeless people at a city shelter.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the Norfolk, Va., animal rights group, argued that the donated furs should provide warmth - rather than vanity - for the owners.
"We can't bring the lives of these animals back," said PETA spokesman William Rivas-Rivas. "We have to be pragmatic."
"This is really cool," said Tuesday Brown, 42, who lives in the shelter about half a mile from the U.S. Capitol. She chose a long brown fur after trying on about five different coats.
"I like long coats, and it's beautiful," said Brown, who has lived at the Center for Creative Nonviolence for 18 months. She said she has never owned a fur but called it an "esteem booster."
PETA has given away furs in Detroit, New York, Seattle and even Afghanistan. But the coats have very little value on the street because the mink, sable and others were deliberately devalued by either stains or cuts.
Shelter resident Phyllis Brown, 53, said she doesn't plan to sell her long black coat, and doubts many other residents will try to either.
"We are grateful to have them," Brown said.
In a time when the hottest brands and clothing may be ripe for theft on the streets, Rivas-Rivas said the furs shouldn't put the homeless at risk.
"Fur coats are so devalued these days anyway," he said. "Someone can go and buy one at a thrift store for $15."
Updated: Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2005 - 4:42 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) - They've spent years burning fur coats and tossing paint at people wearing them. But Wednesday, an animal rights group tried something completely different - handing out dozens of furs to homeless people at a city shelter.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the Norfolk, Va., animal rights group, argued that the donated furs should provide warmth - rather than vanity - for the owners.
"We can't bring the lives of these animals back," said PETA spokesman William Rivas-Rivas. "We have to be pragmatic."
"This is really cool," said Tuesday Brown, 42, who lives in the shelter about half a mile from the U.S. Capitol. She chose a long brown fur after trying on about five different coats.
"I like long coats, and it's beautiful," said Brown, who has lived at the Center for Creative Nonviolence for 18 months. She said she has never owned a fur but called it an "esteem booster."
PETA has given away furs in Detroit, New York, Seattle and even Afghanistan. But the coats have very little value on the street because the mink, sable and others were deliberately devalued by either stains or cuts.
Shelter resident Phyllis Brown, 53, said she doesn't plan to sell her long black coat, and doubts many other residents will try to either.
"We are grateful to have them," Brown said.
In a time when the hottest brands and clothing may be ripe for theft on the streets, Rivas-Rivas said the furs shouldn't put the homeless at risk.
"Fur coats are so devalued these days anyway," he said. "Someone can go and buy one at a thrift store for $15."
Of course, only time will tell whether their next act will be another sensible idea or something that's to be expected from the PETA we all know and love.
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