PETA’s Seal to Trail Harper to West Kelowna

Group Will Shine a Spotlight on Canada’s Wasteful Seal-Slaughter Spending

For Immediate Release:
September 12, 2013

Contact:
Sophia Charchuk 202-483-7382 

West Kelowna, B.C. – Holding a sign reading, “Harper: Stop the Seal Slaughter,” a PETA member wearing a seal costume will follow Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to the Conservative Party’s event in West Kelowna on Friday. PETA’s point? That Harper should use his influence to end the annual commercial seal slaughter, which is cruel and costs taxpayers millions more to support it than it earns.

When:  Friday, September 13, 3 p.m.

Where: Quails’ Gate Winery, 3303 Boucherie Rd., West Kelowna

During the slaughter, tens of thousands of baby seals have their heads bashed in or are shot. Sealers hook seals in the eyes, cheeks, or mouth and drag them across the ice, often while they’re still conscious. This slaughter continues, even though the market for seal products has all but disappeared: The U.S., the European Union, and Russia—which had been importing 95 percent of Canadian seal pelts—have all banned seal fur. Millions in taxpayer dollars are wasted propping up this industry. A study in 2010 at Canada’s University of Guelph found that ending the slaughter would save the country at least $7 million each year.

“The seal slaughter is a bloody stain on Canada’s reputation that Prime Minister Harper can’t escape,” says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “PETA’s ‘spokesseal’ won’t give up until the massacre is stopped.”

For more information, please visit PETA.org.