The Price They Pay

Produced in conjunction with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), this powerful short film effectively conveys the horror that we do not see when it comes to using vanity products which come from animals. The focus of the film is on fur trapping and farming. To date, only three of our states (but many other countries of the world) have banned the use of steel-jaw leg-hold traps, which are both inhumane and often ineffective. Fox, mink, beaver, muskrat, raccoon, and coyotes are the primary targets of fur trappers, but birds, dogs, cats, and other animals are often the unintended victims. The tape also looks at fur "farming" where animals are routinely suffocated, given electrical shock, or have their necks broken in order to kill the animal without damaging the fur. The final third of the program expands to question the killing of any animal for non-edible consumer products (such as alligator skin shoes or ivory piano keys), and drops in on a classroom where students are learning about the origin of these everyday items and about the many man-made products which are available as substitutes. The images of animals struggling in traps--while painful and heartrending for anyone to watch--makes the film unsuitable for young children. But junior and senior high schools, universities, and public libraries would all be good places to have this informative video available. Highly recommended. (Available from: Varied Directions Inc., 69 Elm St., Camden, ME 04843; 1-800-888-5236.)