tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9253384.post5478540515033552621..comments2024-01-06T01:57:17.572-05:00Comments on Knit Buddies: kitty: mink and cashmere yarn *updated*Kitty Kittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12814037601049328212noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9253384.post-52946320556950931572016-06-13T01:58:57.963-05:002016-06-13T01:58:57.963-05:00Possums are not a pest in Australia, they are nati...Possums are not a pest in Australia, they are native animals (and they definitely are not killed or eaten in Australia). They are however an introduced species in New Zealand where they have become a serious problem. Julie from AustraliaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9253384.post-44260363868005978502013-04-29T15:24:38.847-05:002013-04-29T15:24:38.847-05:00I'm sorry to tell you this, but you are being ...I'm sorry to tell you this, but you are being sold a bill of goods.I questioned this same gentleman personlly a few years ago preparing for an article I wanted to write on "fur" yarn. I was not convinced at all. Mink are mean natured, and not about to be ccombed or sheared with out a major fight.<br />Please read the below quote from the Canadian Fur trade<br />http://www.furisgreen.com/animalwelfare.aspx<br /><br />Humane euthanasia<br /> Farmers are responsible for their animals’ care from birth to death. Mink are generally euthanized with bottled carbon monoxide gas. When harvest time comes around, a mobile unit is brought to the cages to eliminate stress that might be caused by transporting them long distances (loading, unloading and transporting animals is generally much more stressful for them than the actual slaughtering operation.)<br /> <br />I hope that you reconsider your humane yarn choices<br />Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11397132597555161875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9253384.post-65070778070321778782009-05-05T22:23:00.000-05:002009-05-05T22:23:00.000-05:00Hi, I just wanted to give you some more info on po...Hi, I just wanted to give you some more info on possum yarn. This yarn comes from New Zealand, not Australia. In Australia it is illegal to hunt or kill possums, which is a very contentious issue since they are also an endemic pest, destroying crops and vegetation at an alarming rate. In New Zealand possums are not hunted for fur or food (although a very small possum meat industry exists), but are culled as part of a national preservation of wildlife strategy as possum numbers are very high. The fur has been harvested for fibre and yarn as a by product of this cull - in other words the animals are killed in specified numbers and their fur is either left to rot or used for yarn. I don't think it is therefore cruel to use the yarn - I think letting the fur rot is a terrible waste. There is a long history in Australia and New Zealand of the use of possum furs for clothing as a way of controlling animal numbers and unlike many other animals whose numbers have dropped over time, possums numbers have grown significantly. The yarn is lovely to knit with and wonderfully warm and I'd really encourage you to give it a try.soozhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14784397133575053048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9253384.post-62011164406359570632009-02-01T21:27:00.000-05:002009-02-01T21:27:00.000-05:00mink AND cashmere?! oh, wow- I need to get some! t...mink AND cashmere?! oh, wow- I need to get some! thanks for such a great review. <BR/><BR/>- JulieTeam Knithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09312254786188352620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9253384.post-49548269852225737722009-02-01T09:20:00.000-05:002009-02-01T09:20:00.000-05:00Now all we need to do is cross a mink with a cashm...Now all we need to do is cross a mink with a cashmere goat. Wow! What a superlative mixture!fleeglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06348327363198905898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9253384.post-64097576777270746242009-02-01T00:13:00.000-05:002009-02-01T00:13:00.000-05:00did they give you good info. on how the mink fiber...did they give you good info. on how the mink fiber is obtained? i'm glad to see they emphasize the minks not being harmed, but i'm curious about the details... whether the minks are wild or farm-raised, how big the "flocks" are, how they get the fibers from them and such.MeowGirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05092223695727512662noreply@blogger.com