This time of year you’ll hear from a lot of non-profits about donations and gift giving. For The Fur-Bearers, it’s a big time of year for those same reasons. But it’s also so much more…
In the 1960s, George and Bunty Clements joined a floundering The Association for the Protection of Fur-Bearing Animals. The two former teachers took the reins and drove the organization into the modern era, bringing their cause – compassionate co-existence and the end to the use of commercial fur – into the new millennium. One of their favourite times of year was Christmas, and they had a proud tradition: lighting up their tree.
For years and years, George and Bunty would add a light to their Christmas tree, one they said was for all the animals who wouldn’t be able to spend the special season with their families. Though George and Bunty have passed on, the Christmas Tree for the Animals is something we carry forward with great love and pride.
Every donation, letter, or comment we receive this time of year brings a smile to our faces and a lift to our hearts. Despite the growing darkness of the winter months and the always difficult darkness of the fur industry into which we must stare, it brings that small spark of light. And with that little spark of light, we see hope: hope that the love with which George and Bunty grew our cause will continue; hope that a better future for the animals is possible; and hope that this coming year, despite all the darkness in the world, we can spread our messages of compassion and coexistence.
Please join us this year with a small donation (or monthly donation for the price of a Starbucks drink) so that we can share in your joy and hope, and spread compassion to all of the fur-bearing animals in Canada.
