Will Mashpee residents officially ban fur trading during town meeting? – Cape Cod Times

As part of a growing national movement, a group of Mashpee residents wants the town to ban the sale of fur, arguing the industry causes undue suffering to animals like foxes and mink.
“A ban on fur in Mashpee is somewhat symbolic. But it would go a long way to help eliminate this horribly cruel and immoral industry,” said resident Larry Ginsberg, one of the measure’s sponsors, during a March 16 Select Board meeting.
The measure to ban the sale of fur is outlined in Article 33 on the warrant for the May 4 town meeting. The article asks voters to amend Chapter 126 of the town’s general bylaws by adding a provision on trade in fur products.
Massachusetts, he said, is the third largest purchaser of fur in the country behind Texas and New York. Eight communities in the state, including Cambridge, Weston, Brookline and Wellesley, have already banned the sale of fur, according to Ginsberg. He would like Mashpee to become the ninth.
Ginsberg says no local businesses sell real fur products.
“The fur ban would hurt no existing businesses that exist in Mashpee now,” he said.
Special town meeting and annual town meeting will be held at 7 p.m., May 4 at Mashpee Middle High School.
Residents will also be asked to vote on several articles to build and operate wastewater treatment infrastructure, as well approve $11.5 million to overhaul the heating and ventilation system at Quashnet Intermediate School.
Preyel Patel, Massachusetts state director for Humane World for Animals was also at the Select Board meeting and said Article 33 will restrict trade in fur products but will protect Mashpee Wampanoag tribal sovereignty.
“The exemption to the bylaw for any tribal or cultural use of fur would protect any interest the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe would have using fur,” she said.
Fur, said Patel, is defined as hair that is attached to the skin. Suede, leather, shearling, and wool are not considered fur and are exempt, she said.
Fur traders usually keep wild animals outdoors in small, wire-bottom, cages, Patel said. To preserve the quality of the pelts, the animals are electrocuted anally or vaginally, she told the Select Board. Animals that are slaughtered for their fur endure tremendous suffering, she said.
Fur farms, according to Fur-Free Massachusetts, also contribute to zoonotic diseases, including SARS and coronavirus. Fur production also harms the environment, according to the Fur-Free Massachusetts website, including air and water pollution.
Fur-Free Massachusetts supports the petition, according to its website.
Petitioners hope that eliminating the sale of fur in Mashpee will decrease the demand for fur-based products and will promote community health and well-being as well as animal welfare, and, in turn, will foster a more humane environment in the town and enhance the reputation of the town.
Article 4 on the special town meeting warrant asks taxpayers to spend $12 million to pay costs to building a sewage treatment plant and other wastewater treatment infrastructure. Some of that appropriation would be used to obtain easements necessary to the project.
The project has been approved by the Sewer Commission and the Select Board and is the next step in implementing a plan to reduce the amount of nitrogen going into the watershed. Town meeting must pass the article on a two-thirds vote. The measure must then be approved by voters at the May 9 annual town election.
Residents will be asked to approve an $11.5 million Proposition 2 1/2 debt exclusion override million to upgrade the heating and ventilation system as well as well as the fire suppression system at Quashnet Intermediate School.
In a recent Times article, Superintendent Michele Conners said the building is used by students, staff, and residents of all ages throughout the year. Ensuring that it has modern HVAC systems and full fire suppression is about protecting everyone who uses the space, she said.
The spending outlined in Article 24 requires a two-thirds vote to pass at town meeting and a simple majority at the May 9 annual town election.
Staff writer Rachael Devaney can be reached at rdevaney@capecodonline.com.
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