Breaking news

March 2, 2011

BC BUSINESS LEADS EFFORT TO BAN DOG SLED RACING AND TOURS

Dog walks rally the public to ‘paws and listen’ about the suffering of sled dogs

Vancouver, BC – Taking steps to stop sledding, LUSH Cosmetics and the Vancouver Humane Society (VHS) have partnered to lead a demonstration against British Columbia’s dog sledding industry by exposing the truth behind these cruel and unnecessary joy rides and races. Brave LUSH staff are stepping outside their shops with protest placards reading “Dogs Aren’t Disposable” and leading dog walks to save sled dogs. Part of the action includes a push to get the public to sign postcards to the Minister of Agriculture, demanding an all out ban on dog sled races and tours throughout BC.

With the world’s attention focused on the slaughtering of 100 sled dogs near Whistler last April, it’s time to shed light on the inhumane practices taking place in this industry as a whole. For one month starting March 2nd, LUSH Cosmetics is turning its BC shops into campaign centres to raise awareness about the devastating impacts that the dog sledding industry has on the animals’ welfare. Staff will be ‘pawsing’ to take action on March 5th, which coincides with the start of the Iditarod, a gruelling 1131 mile dog sled race across Alaska. In addition to the day of action, in-store leaflets will be handed out to customers asking them to support the Vancouver Humane Society and their fight to end sled dogs’ suffering, cruelty and exploitation.

To further efforts, LUSH has created a new limited edition PAWS soap ($5.95) with 100% of the proceeds going to VHS’s campaign to stop dog sledding. The PAWS soap represents the paw prints of all the lost and suffering dogs of the sledding industry. This vegan soap is scented with sandalwood and citrus oils and will be available exclusively at LUSH’s BC stores during the month of the campaign.

Why is a soap shop in a lather over dog sledding? LUSH is concerned about the inherent poor welfare that is widespread in the dog sledding industry. This is an unregulated industry, where it’s legal to shoot sled dogs without reason. The Vancouver Humane Society’s Debra Probert adds, “These dogs’ lives are full of deplorable extremes. When racing, they are exposed to unacceptable levels of risk by hours of intense physical activity in extreme conditions. When not racing, they are tethered in sociologically-deprived environments that should be considered unacceptable by anyone with even a rudimentary knowledge of dog behaviour.”

“As a company that cares about animals and their welfare, we are ashamed of the unnecessary and cruel killings of 100 sled dogs near Whistler,” says LUSH Campaigns Manager Brandi Halls. “We could not sit back and let this continue without urging the caring public to do what’s right and take a stand in protecting these beautiful and helpless dogs. We are a BC based business demanding an end to dog sled tours and races in this Province.”

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Notes to the Editor:
• The Vancouver Humane Society is a registered charity dedicated to exposing
animal abuse and assisting individuals, businesses and governments to end animal
suffering, cruelty and exploitation. Funding comes primarily from donations, and our
activities are made possible with the generous assistance of volunteers.
• Established 16 years ago, LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics has been driven by
innovation and its ethics. Creators of pioneering beauty products such as the fizzing
bath bombs, bubble bars, and solid shampoo bars, LUSH places emphasis on fresh
ingredients like organic fruits and vegetables and the finest essential oils. LUSH
operates a strict policy against animal testing, supports Fair Trade and Community
Trade initiatives, and leads the cosmetics industry in combating over-packaging by
developing products that can be sold ‘naked’ to the consumer. LUSH products are
100 percent vegetarian, 81 percent vegan, 69 percent preservative-free and 44
percent free of wasteful packaging with absolutely no animal testing being done on
LUSH products or ingredients. These ethics are at the heart of the brand and will
remain there with every new shop that opens globally. LUSH has 139 locations in
North America with over 700 worldwide in over 42 countries. Visit www.lush.ca for
more information.

• For additional campaign details please visit http://www.lush.com/shop/pawsandlisten/ and or http://www.vancouverhumanesociety.bc.ca/lush-sled-dog/