As any pet owner knows, the condition of an animal’s coat is one of the first and clearest indications of the care that the animal is receiving. A fur farmer’s livelihood depends upon ensuring that his or her animals receive the best possible feeding, sanitary housing and care that the animals’ eventual dispatch is humane, quick and painless. Millions of pounds have been invested in objective scientific research and programmes to ensure the optimum animal welfare standards for animals covering everything from housing to feed are guaranteed. The modern, organised fur sector bares litter resemblance to the caricature painted by animal rights activists.