Animal rights protest outside a farm in St. Agatha

In this file image, a mink walks in front a farm near Santiago de Compostela, northwestern Spain, Sunday Oct. 15, 2006. (AP / EFE, Cabalar)

Angry and outraged animal rights activists shouted “Shut it down! Shut it down!” in front of the Springbrook Fur Farm in St. Agatha Saturday afternoon.

They say the fur industry is cruel and outdated and they want the farm to be shutdown.

The farm’s owner didn’t want to speak on camera but told CTV News that most of the claims the protesters are saying are unfounded.  The owner did confirm that the farm does kill about 30 thousand minks a year.

Malcolm Klimowicz took part in Saturday’s protest.  “We want this place shutdown because it’s horrible what these people do to these animals.”

The group claims the farm that has been operating for more than 80 years in St. Agatha unfairly tortures the minks they sell to the fur industry.

“We’re just trying to give glass walls to what goes on here and to let them know we’re not okay with animals losing their lives just so that people can wear them as clothing.” Wendy Bones of K.O.A.L.A. (Kitchener Ontario Animal Liberation Alliance) says.

They claim the minks are unfairly held in captivity.

“They spend their entire lives in wire cages about three feet by three feet,” Klimowicz says. “They never get to touch the grass they don’t have access to water.”

The activists say they’re killed by inhumane means.

“The animals are anally electrocuted, some of their fur is stripped off while they’re alive,” Riaz of Hamilton Halton Animal Liberation Team says.  “It’s just absolutely horrible to imagine what that must be like.”

But not so says the owner.

Springbrook raises about 30 thousand minks a year.  The owner declined our request to speak on camera, but say they strictly follow Canada’s Mink processing code and say all their animals are treated humanely.

“The pen size and how you treat the mink and veterinary care is all spelled out in the revised mink code that was just revised in conjunction with Agriculture Canada and this farm is within compliance.” Nancy Daigneault of Fur Council of Canada says.

The owner says there’s no truth to the protesters’ claims that the animals are tortured.  He admits they are kept in wire cages but says they’re housed in sheds away from the elements and that the minks are killed with carbon monoxide gas not by electrocution.  But protestors say it’s still unfair.

“Being aquatic animals they can hold their breath for a long time so this takes quite a long time to do so it’s very painful and it’s stressful for the other animals.” Klimowicz says.

Ed Ries lives up the street and says protestors are entitled to their opinions.  “He’s operating his business like anybody else does, just like anybody else and he’s doing a good job at it.” Ries says.

This is the fourth time the animal rights activists have protested at the farm and they say they’ll continue to make their voices heard until the plant is shutdown.