Stores Sell Dog Fur Labeled ‘Rabbit.’

Humane Society International (HSI) revealed today that Australian clothing stores Myer and Whittner have both been selling vests made from dog fur and marking them “rabbit.”

HSI conducted tests on the fur and confirmed they were indeed dog. HSI says both Myer and Whittner are selling the vests as “rabbit fur” to avoid customer anger but both stores claim to have no idea the garments were actually dog, possibly from German shepherds.

Furriers can get dogs for cheap or even free. They can skin them and sell their fur as something more expensive like rabbit, mink, or fox. Many people in the fur garment maintenance and restoration business say they often have to tell people that their priceless old mink coat is actually dog.

Myers and Whittier have both pulled the items from their shelves. They claim to have strict policies against selling dog fur but this case proves, as it did with Urban Outfitters here in the US, if the label says “rabbit” or even “faux,” you just never know.