What does a fur ban do?

A fur ban means there will be no selling of new animal furs. Generally, new furs are imported from other countries where there are no laws protecting animals. A fur ban enhances the reputation of our community and upholds animal welfare as an important issue. The extreme cruelty, waste, and exploitation inherent to fur production is inconsistent with Columbus’s identity as an innovative, progressive big city committed to growing and thriving together. 

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The fur industry consigns millions of wildlife to a lifetime of caged misery, and an agonizing death, solely to produce a luxury item of no public benefit. Read more about how the fur industry operates here.

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A fur ban does not apply to used or vintage furs, hunting and pelting, or religious uses of fur. Our proposed ordinance has been carefully tailored with the considerations of our business community in mind. Any businesses that do sell any commercially produced new fur products will be provided a phase-out period to sell off any existing inventory and transition to alternatives.

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Fur-Free Ohio seeks to improve animal welfare standards while supporting sustainable and innovative fur-free alternatives.

Famous fashion retailers and designers such as Neiman Marcus, Canada Goose, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s, and Gucci have dropped fur in recent years, or committed publicly to ending its production and use by no later than the close of 2022. Over 300 other brands have pledged to go 100% fur-free, too!

These high-profile businesses have recognized fur is not only intolerably cruel, but - far from being fashion-forward - is embarrassingly backwards, and entirely unnecessary to designing, producing, and marketing warm, fashionable, long-lasting styles that appeal to public demand.

California became the first state to ban fur sales in 2019, following in the footsteps of several of its major cities. Ann Arbor, MI, and Wellesley and Weston, MA are the latest cities to end fur sales, and Massachusetts is also considering a statewide ban. This year, Israel became the first country to ban fur sales, and the United Kingdom is now considering one of its own.