Massachusetts Pushes To Ban Fur Sales Amid Shocking Discovery At Fur Farm In Ohio

Massachusetts lawmakers are making a decisive move to prohibit the sale of fur products in the state after shocking conditions were uncovered at a fur farm in Ohio.

State Sen. Cindy Creem and State Rep. Jack Patrick Lewis have introduced legislation—SD.712 and HD.2107—aimed at banning the sale of new products derived from animals held in fur factory farms. Should these bills pass, Massachusetts would join California in taking a firm stance against the fur industry.

The legislation comes in the wake of a dramatic rescue operation carried out by the Humane World for Animals (HWFA) and Ohio authorities at the Grand River Fur Exchange, a fur farm near Cleveland. After the owner died in late December 2024, county officials requested assistance from HSUS to address an escalating animal welfare crisis.

Rescuers found more than 330 animals—foxes, raccoons, wolf-dog hybrids, skunks, opossums, and coyotes—living in squalid wire cages with little to no protection from freezing temperatures. Many animals suffered from severe injuries, missing limbs, and extreme emaciation. Some were found dead, their bodies covered in snow.

Responders also discovered electrocution tools on the property, a grim reminder of the brutal methods used to kill animals for their pelts. Many of the rescued animals have since been placed with licensed wildlife rehabilitators and sanctuaries across the country.

“The conditions exposed at this fur farm are nothing short of appalling,” said Rep. Lewis. “Massachusetts has the opportunity to lead on the humane treatment of animals by banning the sale of farmed fur, ensuring we don’t contribute to an industry that subjects animals to such outrageous suffering.”

“No animal should ever endure the kind of suffering exposed at this facility. By passing a ban on the sale of products born from such inhumane practices, Massachusetts can send a clear message that this cruelty has no place in our state or in our values,” added Sen. Creem.

Fur farming in the U.S. operates largely without oversight, as animals raised for their fur are not protected under federal animal welfare laws. Without regulations, fur farms use some of the most inhumane killing methods—gassing, anal electrocution, and clubbing—to avoid damaging their pelts before they are sold at auction. Pelts from U.S. fur farms are often exported through the Fur Harvesters Auction, the last remaining fur auction house in North America, where they are used for fashion and home decor items such as fur pom-pom hats and fur-trimmed gloves.

Although most fur farming takes place overseas, primarily in China, some fur farms continue to operate under the radar in the U.S. The lack of regulations means these facilities are not required to provide veterinary care or test for diseases such as COVID-19 or avian influenza, posing potential public health risks. Investigations across the globe have consistently revealed that animals in fur farms endure extreme neglect and cruelty as a standard practice.

Communities in Massachusetts have already taken steps to restrict fur sales at the local level, with towns including Wellesley, Weston, Brookline, Plymouth, Cambridge, Lexington, Attleboro, and Arlington passing ordinances against fur. If SD.712 and HD.2107 pass, Massachusetts—currently the third-largest fur-selling state behind New York and Texas—would take a significant step in eliminating the market for these cruelly produced products.

The proposed legislation is carefully structured to target only new fur products made from animals bred and killed solely for their pelts. It does not apply to secondhand fur, fur from legally hunted animals, leather, wool, or other animal hair products. Additionally, it includes exemptions for religious garments and items such as fishing lures and paintbrushes made from loose animal hair.

With growing awareness of the cruelty behind fur fashion, Massachusetts has a unique opportunity to lead the charge in eradicating the sale of these needless and inhumane products. The state’s decisive measures could propel the U.S. toward a future where fur farming is banned throughout the country.