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By JOE HEALEY jhealey@leader.net
Sunday, February 06, 2000 Page: 3A
WILKES-BARRE – About 20 people, one dressed like the Grim Reaper,
gathered in front of Boscov’s Department Store in downtown Wilkes-Barre to
protest fur sales at the store.
Members of Voices of the Animals, Families Against Cruelty Together and
Action for Animals participated in the protest, said Silvie Pomicter,
president of Voice of the Animals.
“Boscov’s is a fine store,” Pomicter said. “We just hope officials at
Boscov’s will discontinue selling all fur and fur items, including fur coats,
fur trimmed coats, gloves, hats, stuffed toys and statues.”
Myna Hailstone, the assistant manager of the store, said the store has only
about 5 coats with fur trim.
“Most of our coats are fake furs,” she said.
Wilkes-Barre police said it was a peaceful protest and there were no
problems.
Pomicter said her animal-rights organization, based in Chinchilla in
Lackawanna County, strives to give pets and animals a voice.
“They can’t speak so we speak for them,” she said.
Valentine’s Day is traditionally a time of the year when people show love
and concern for each other, Pomicter said. She said humans should show love
and concern for animals and not buy products that use fur.
She said the ways fur-bearing animals are killed range from electrocution
to gassing, and from suffocation to being skinned alive. That kind of
treatment of animals is inhumane, she said.
She called furs “frivolous luxury items.”
Call Healey at 829-7225.