Stop Cruel Mink Farms Before They Spark The Next Pandemic

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Sponsor: The Animal Rescue Site

Mink are suffering in silence while deadly viruses brew—Congress must act now to end this cruelty and stop the next public health disaster before it begins.

Stop Cruel Mink Farms Before They Spark The Next Pandemic

Across the U.S., mink are packed into filthy wire cages on industrial fur farms. These wild animals are denied water, space, and everything natural to them. When they’re no longer profitable, they’re gassed to preserve their pelts1. All for hat trims, coat linings, and gloves.

This cruelty is reason enough to shut these farms down. But it’s not the only reason. Mink farming now threatens public health in a very real way.

A Breeding Ground for Dangerous Disease

Mink have been infected with COVID-19 and have transmitted mutated strains back to humans2. Now they’re testing positive for avian flu, a deadly virus already spreading between birds, cows, and people in the U.S.3. Mink are especially dangerous hosts because their respiratory systems are so similar to ours—they help viruses evolve in ways that make them more contagious or deadly.

Cramming thousands of stressed, undomesticated animals into confined spaces creates a perfect storm for the next pandemic. Experts agree: the risks are not worth it4.

The Industry Is Already Dying

Fur is falling out of fashion. Mink pelt production in the U.S. has dropped by 80% over the past decade, and the industry’s value has collapsed from $117 million in 2015 to just $28 million in 20245. Consumers, designers, and cities are all walking away from fur. What’s left is a dying industry putting the public at risk.

It’s Time to Act

The Mink VIRUS Act (H.R. 2185) will phase out mink farming in the U.S., provide support for farmers to transition to safer jobs, and help prevent the next zoonotic disease outbreak. This is our chance to shut down an industry built on suffering and rooted in danger.

Congress must act now to protect public health, native wildlife, and animal welfare.

Call on lawmakers to support the Mink VIRUS Act—
sign the petition today.

More on this issue:

  1. Kitty Block, Humane World (22 Jul 2025), "In blow to the fur industry, EU bans breeding and keeping of American mink."
  2. Animal Legal Defense Fund (20 Mar 2025), "Mink VIRUS Act Reintroduced in the U.S. House to Ban Mink Farming."
  3. Humane World (2024), "Mink living wild near Utah fur farm tests positive for coronavirus."
  4. Born Free USA (28 Jul 2025), "The Fur Industry Is a Dying Industry."
  5. Humane World (2025), "The number of US mink fur farms plummets as consumers reject cruelty."

The Petition

To the Honorable Members of Congress,

We, the undersigned, urge you to support and swiftly pass the Mink: Vectors for Infection Risk in the United States Act (Mink VIRUS Act, H.R. 2185). This bipartisan bill represents a critical step toward protecting public health, conserving wildlife, and ending the cruelty inherent in mink fur farming.

Mink farms pose a well-documented threat to both human and environmental health. These facilities crowd undomesticated, semi-aquatic animals into unsanitary, high-stress conditions that serve as breeding grounds for zoonotic diseases. Outbreaks of COVID-19 and avian influenza in farmed mink populations—some of which have resulted in transmission to humans—underscore the urgency of addressing these risks before they contribute to future pandemics.

In addition to the public health danger, escaped farmed mink threaten native wildlife populations and ecosystems. As an invasive species, American mink have already caused widespread ecological disruption across multiple regions.

By phasing out mink farming and supporting farmers in transitioning to new livelihoods, the Mink VIRUS Act offers a responsible and forward-looking solution. It prioritizes human safety, animal welfare, and environmental stability—all without compromising economic support for those in the industry.

This legislation is a necessary move toward a safer, more humane future. We respectfully call on you to support H.R. 2185 and take decisive action to end a dying and dangerous industry.

Together, we can protect ecosystems, prevent disease, and build a healthier world for generations to come.

Sincerely,

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