Nordstrom Gives Buying Preference to Farmers Who Don't Mutilate Lambs

Nordstrom officials were so horrified by the cruel treatment of Australian lambs, who are partially skinned alive—without painkillers—during a procedure called “mulesing,” and sheep, who are forced to endure weeks—or even months—of suffering aboard “death ships” bound for slaughter in the Middle East, where animal welfare regulations are non-existent, that the company has started to push the Australian wool industry to take animal welfare seriously. After meeting with PETA representatives about the issues, Nordstrom issued a statement saying that the group “will give purchasing preference to suppliers that can provide us with guaranteed non-mulesed wool, with the intention of using only non-mulesed wool for our products. By the end of 2005, we will have a committed timeline to achieve that goal.”

Nordstrom joins a quickly growing list of clothing retailers, including U.S.-based Abercrombie & Fitch, Timberland, Limited Brands, and European retail giants New Look and George, in taking a stand against the cruel practices of the Australian wool industry.

Please write to Nordstrom to thank the company for giving Australian farmers an incentive to end the cruel and outdated practice of mulesing in favor of effective and humane alternatives, and urge the company to stop buying Australian merino wool altogether until mulesing and live export end.

Linda Peffer, Divisional Vice President, Social Responsibility
Nordstrom Product Group
1617 Sixth Ave., Ste. 1000
Seattle, WA 98101
206-628-1795 (fax)
https://secure.nordstrom.com/services/storefeedback.asp (e-mail via Web site)

Join Nordstrom in taking a stand against cruelty to animals by refusing to buy garments made from merino wool, most of which comes from Australia. Order a free “Shopping Guide to Compassionate Clothing” to learn how you can help animals when you shop for clothing.

Find out how you can help save sheep by telling your community about the cruelty of Australian wool.

Watch PETA's video "Australias Secret Shame" to see for yourself what happens to sheep down under.