Save 'Battery Sheep' from Lives of Suffering

In 2004 Animals Australia was shocked to discover that sheep had also fallen victim to the cruelty of factory farming. Investigations conducted by Animals Australia at the appropriately named 'Wool Factory' in Victoria revealed thousands of sheep confined in sheds in tiny individual pens in order to produce 'ultra fine wool'. Investigators documented distressed sheep chewing on the bars of their pens in stress, frustration and boredom.

Animals Australia recently convinced the world's largest single buyer of ultra fine wool, Italian fashion designer Loro Piana, to stop buying wool from single penned sheep and to eliminate it from his prestigious wool awards competition. With his decision Loro Piana shows that style and ethical leadership go hand in hand.

Another target of Animals Australia's campaign to end 'shedded sheep' has been Italian Fashion House Ermenegildo Zegna, also a major buyer of ultra fine wool. Zegna presents the fine wool industry awards in Australia, including the Vellus Aureum Gold Trophy, awarded for the 'finest fleece'. 'The Wool Factory' is a previous recipient of this trophy which is proudly displayed at their facility.

In a positive development, pressure from Animals Australia's campaign has led Zegna to announce that fleeces from facilities that use single penning will no longer be eligible for the Vellus Aureum Trophy -- meaning that facilities such as 'The Wool Factory' are now unable to enter the award.

A commitment from Zegna to extend their ethical position and also discontinue buying cruelly produced ultra fine wool is crucial as it would further impact on the financial viability of these cruel facilities.

You can help to end the factory farming of sheep by urging Ermenegildo Zegna to not only follow the lead of Loro Piana in opposing the use of single pen, but set an example by committing not to purchase wool from facilities that confine sheep to sheds without access to graze in a flock outdoors.

Take Action!

Subject: (please enter a subject line) Dear Ermenegildo Zegna, (please edit the letter below, or send as-is) I applaud Ermenegildo Zegna's decision to exclude fleeces produced from single pen wool growing systems and from growers who practice mulesing from entering the Vellus Aureum trophy. I urge you to follow the example of your colleague Loro Piana by extending your commitment to not purchasing wool from producers who inflict these cruel practices and who deny sheep the ability to graze outdoors in a flock. Introducing this ethical policy would be internationally acknowledged and applauded as it would ensure that Ermenegildo Zegna was not financially supporting these cruel methods of wool production. Sincerely, Your Name

We will send this e-mail to:

• Ermenegildo Zegna

Your First Name: Your Last Name: Your E-Mail: Keep me updated with Animals Australia e-updates

Security Code:   (What's this?)