Posted August 16, 2011 by Rachelle Owen
Let’s face it: Whether you like it or not, fall is creeping up—and school is right around the corner. It’s time for back to school sales, picking out new digs, and putting together your new school year wardrobe. Want to make sure there’s no blood on your hands this school year? Follow my advice and avoid these five things!
I won’t lie: A 15-year-old me probably would’ve gotten down with this (and attached them to my 5-sizes-too-big goth pants), but now I know better. Although versions of this fad are fake, many are very real. They came from very real animals who were trapped in very real fur farms … or in very real steel leg-hold traps. These tails belong on foxes, raccoons, and other animals—not your jeans or backpack. If you’re wearing a tail, you might as well wear a full-length fur coat … and you wouldn’t do that, would you?
WTF—really? It takes roosters who produce these feathers months to grow them, and now thanks to a passing trend, they’re being killed for them. DIY, cruelty-free feather extensions are better, cheaper, and no one had to die for them—got it? Good.
If you could ask ‘em, cows would tell you they would rather not have hot chili peppers rubbed in their eyes. They don’t like being castrated without any painkillers, and they don’t like having their throats slit while fully conscious. This is what you support every time you buy leather (that and includes leather trim). Avoid it! Check labels on shoes, purses, belts, and wallets for “man-made materials”—easy, right?
Cathy, Sam, Max and Mai / CC by 2.0
Sweaters are a back-to-school must, right? Before you hit the checkout, make sure you check the labels. Even “5% wool” means 100% suffering for sheep who are used for their cute wooly coats. In Australia, where a lot of wool comes from, sheep farmers hack the backsides out of fully conscious sheep in order to prevent maggot infestation. The grossest part? It doesn’t always work and maggots can eat the sheep alive.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again—even a “little” fur trim is too much. Animals killed for their fur endure cramped, filthy conditions before being bludgeoned to death, drowned, gassed, or anally or vaginally electrocuted and sometimes skinned alive. When you’re shopping for a new winter coat or comfy hoodie, watch out for the trim!
Know someone who sports one of the above? Yikes! Share this blog with them to show them what’s up.
peta2 Street Team Coordinator + lover of vegan food, cats, animal rights, Dawson's Creek, and Harry Potter.
Too long to explain here, it's long enough for a novel.
Father loves to farm, be self sustainable, loves to read, he's a antiques/vintage auctioneer, art student, and looks like mr. Rogers. My mother is a Montessori teacher and is amazing with children, all about local organic foods, loves gardening, cooking etc. my sister who is nine years older than me was into indie music and introduced me to all sorts of things at a young age. This all rubbed of on me and from that base I grew into similar things. I'm an INFJ
I love animals about as much as rock, heavy metal, tea, and coffee. Hoping to make a difference and help animals through PETA!!!
I'm tall, a geek, nacho - obsessed, I love sewing and Cath Kidston, also I'm vegetarian (wannabe vegan.)
Jersey girl now I'm all country.
Well let's just say life ain't always beautiful but it's a beautiful ride. I love all my pets and would do anything for them. I have one dog, two cats, a ferret and my babygirl shaymin,(the cutest hedgehog alive) I'm into all different kinds of music. I'm a singer myself and love art.
I want to get into marketing but not have to rely on people which have different morals and worldviews than I do to hire me. While I'm figuring this out, I want to show everyone what I believe in and spur them into action against injustices.
Life On A Tour Bus
I am Angela. When I am not helping animals I am listening to music, reading, or playing video games. My spirit animal is a fox and I love nature. What else is there to know? Want to know anything about me, need advice or anything message me :)
590 days ago
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wearing any tail to school is idiotic. “wahh wahh they make fun of me”.
the tail you show is fake. it looks like long pile “fur”.
598 days ago
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I always stay away from these products and I’m always checking to make sure it is faux.
607 days ago
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I made sure that the little tail and ear clips I got at Comic-Con were 100% fake. The lady I got them from even called them ‘cruelty-free’ and helped me clip the ears into my hair and pin the tail to my belt loops. As far as feather extensions go, I only use fake arts-and-crafts stuff that my mom has. As well, when I found out some of my wristbands and belts were leather, I immediately got rid of them- I’m more careful about what I buy now.
619 days ago
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I love the flat, knee high leather boots but HATE leather. I found that you can get the same look if you shop on ebay or other sites online without any cruelty to cows! That’s why I Love my brand new faux leather boots. Plus they were alot cheaper.
626 days ago
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Real or fake, it looks dumb as Hell.
628 days ago
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i agree with this article, except i think it’s perfectly okay to wear fake tails if you so choose. just check and make sure they are indeed fake before you buy it, just like with everything else.
629 days ago
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I didn’t know wool was cruel I thought they just sheered some off like cutting hair so they didn’t over heat
629 days ago
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is it bad to buy a fake tail ?????
630 days ago
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Unless it’s on a cosplay or a costume, who the hell or in their right minds would wear a fox tail?! Especially in school, and especially from a real fox?!
630 days ago
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I am ashamed to say that I own one pair of leather boots, but now that I know what cows endure, I promise to always check labels and to never buy anything leather.
630 days ago
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I’m ashamed too. … I’ve got a leather satchel and a pair of leather shoes.
631 days ago
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im all in for the FAKE tail!!!
and to make sure is fake, im making it myself
631 days ago
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Thanks for the shopping list PETA. My group and I haven’t got those yet. Go PITA!
631 days ago
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i spent hrs on the internet looking 4 non leather school shoes, its worth spending that extra time rather than an innocent animal dying 4 them :L
632 days ago
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Oh CRAP I think my belt is lether!!!!
i will have to through it out! or donate it 
624 days ago
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Just don’t buy another leather one. Throwing it out isn’t going to bring that animal back, it’s just going to mean it died in complete vain. Nylon belts are getting easier to find
640 days ago
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I disagree with the mode associated with suffering of animals.
643 days ago
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Roosters were being killed for their feathers long before this stupid fad in order to create fly fishing lures. This isn’t to say anyone should wear the feathers, more birds are being killed than ever to feed the trend and plus they just look stupid, I’m totally against them. But it’s crappy to know that even when this fad passes, roosters will still be killed for fly-fishing…just another stupid thing people feel compelled to kill animals for.
627 days ago
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i so agree with you when i walk in school all these girls have them stupid feathers and i just want to snatch them from there hair. but yet most of them are like i would never kill a bird to wear this . but yet they do >.<
645 days ago
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There was one girl in my school last year who wore a REAL tail from a REAL fox
She wore it for about a month before they threatened to suspend her…THANK GOD!!!!
645 days ago
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Haha yeah…I always make sure stuff is fake before I buy. And yes, I have a tail like that, cept mine is fake fur. And rainbow. >.>
626 days ago
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Ick x_x Why would you want to walk around looking like a dead animal is sticking out of your ass?
645 days ago
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I’ve never seen anyone wear a tail like that.. I think it’s cute, but NOT IF IT’S MADE FROM A REAL ANIMAL.
I was in an antique shop today and saw an old fur coat. It was so disgusting.. really did look like rotting skin.
645 days ago
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Nothing about the cruelty behind this stuff is funny.
645 days ago
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i start school tomorrow and i will NOT be wearing any of these!
646 days ago
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ughhhh awful =( fur is just sick.. I dont get a choice on what to wear to school anyway- uniform but im defenatly going against them saying leather shoes. Thats sick =(
646 days ago
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thats tail is funny, i’ve never seen one
645 days ago
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me neither!
631 days ago
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Theres alot of people at my school who where them. Fake of course. I doubt hottopic would sale 10 dollar real tails.
617 days ago
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Some kid in my biology has one. O.o
646 days ago
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Are FAKE tails bad? I don’t have them. I’m just wondering.
627 days ago
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No. They are not.