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🇦🇺 Australia /Economy & Trade

Dog, rabbit and fox fur found in toys and keyrings sold in markets and online

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Laboratory tests found that seven fluffy toys and keyrings sold in Australia contained real animal fur, including dog, rabbit, and fox.
  • Some products were marketed as fake fur, and the real fur was often dyed, making identification difficult for consumers.
  • Imports of dog and fox fur have been banned in Australia for decades, raising concerns about consumer rights and product safety.

Laboratory testing commissioned by animal welfare organization Four Paws has revealed that every one of seven fluffy toys and keyrings sold in Australia contained real animal fur. The products, purchased from online retailers and market stalls in NSW, were found to contain rabbit, fox, and in one instance, dog fur.

There is a proliferation of these types of cheap products online and I believe most consumers would believe these to be faux fur given the cost and look.

— Louise WardPrograms lead for Four Paws, commenting on the findings.

Despite some items being advertised as fake fur, microscopic analysis by UK-based lab Microtex Analysis identified the animal fibers. The fur was often dyed, making it difficult for consumers to distinguish from synthetic materials. One keyring, sold online for $2.61 and described as a "tail bag pendant" made with "soft fake fur," was found to be consistent with real dog hair. The online retailer is based in Hangzhou, China.

What makes these results so concerning is that we're not talking about luxury fur coats. We're talking about cheap children's toys, fluffy keyrings and small trinkets that no reasonable consumer would expect to contain real animal fur.

— Louise WardPrograms lead for Four Paws, highlighting the nature of the products.

Phil Greaves, principal at Microtex Analysis, stated with certainty that the furs were animal fiber, drawing on over 50 years of experience. The findings are particularly concerning as these products are inexpensive children's toys and trinkets, not luxury items. Louise Ward of Four Paws emphasized that consumers have a right to know what they are purchasing and that current laws are failing to protect them.

Consumers have a right to know what they're buying, and right now our laws and regulations are letting consumers down.

— Louise WardPrograms lead for Four Paws, expressing concern over consumer protection.

Among the tested items were a pink toy rabbit containing hair consistent with real rabbit fur, a yellow fluffy toy with rabbit fur, and a leather kangaroo keyring with a fluffy pom-pom that contained fox fur. Some products bore tags marked "I [heart] Ugg Australia," though Ugg Australia clarified these were not their products and that others were misusing their name.

I am wholly certain that the furs are animal fibre. I have been doing these identifications for over 50 years.

— Phil GreavesPrincipal at Microtex Analysis, confirming the animal origin of the fur.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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