In 90-degree mid-day heat, seated on hot concrete and draped in fur, animal rights activists joined PETA at the corner of West 114th and Detroit to protest fur farms. On one of the hottest days of the year, activists, from left, Nicole Lamoli, Arizona Horson, Carol Skok, Maya Cortes and Victoria Kraska tried to enlighten the lunchtime crowd from before noon until after one on Wednesday. (Lynn Ischay/The Plain Dealer) Lynn Ischay CLEVELAND, Ohio — What would cause women to put on full-length fur coats and chains and sit on a street corner in 90 degree heat?
Three members of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sat in the hot sun outside Sabau Furs at 114th Street and Detroit Avenue for more than an hour Wednesday to emphasize the conditions of fur-bearing animals in fur farms.
"Animals on fur farms are literally dying to get out of their cages," said PETA spokeswoman Virginia Fort. "They suffer in hot, overcrowded barns. We're here to say that this is unacceptable here in the 21st century. There are many more durable, warmer and less expensive alternatives to fur. They don't even wear fur to climb Mt. Everest anymore."
There were nine mink farms in Ohio in 2009, according to the most recent survey available from the USDA. The closest to Cleveland are in Ravenna and Wooster.
A Cleveland police officer was stationed nearby in a squad car for the protest. There were no problems.
The owner of Sabau Furs was not available for comment. The employee working Wednesday had no comment on the protest outside the store.
The women wore real furs that were "donated to PETA for education by women who had a change of heart." Fort said the furs would be used for education and eventually would be given to the homeless.