LOS ANGELES — Got a fur coat gathering dust? The Humane Society suggests the ultimate recycling — putting it on the backs of other animals.
The Coats for Cubs program by the Humane Society of the United States helps orphaned, injured or sick wildlife by gathering fur coats and using them for nests, bedding or cuddly replacements for mom and dad. In 2009, 2,687 fur items were donated.
“We use the discarded furs as bedding to give the animals comfort and reduce stress,” said Michael Markarian, the agency’s chief operating officer in Washington, D.C. “The fur garments act as a surrogate mother. It is a warm and furry substitute.”
The coats go to wildlife rehabilitation centers that take in baby raccoons, chipmunks, squirrels, coyotes, skunks and other animals, and has helped thousands of animals since it began in 2005 with the Fund for Animals.
For those who have fur and no longer want to wear it, “This is a great way for them to give back to the animals,” Markarian said.
How to help
The Coats for Cubs coat drive technically ends on Earth Day, April 22, but the Humane Society will accept coats any time of the year. Donations can be shipped to the group or turned in to any Buffalo Exchange, which has stores or franchises in Denver and Boulder, and in cities in 13 other states.
