Pet Theft Awareness Day

Today, 14th February, is Pet Theft Awareness day. Today is the day to spread awareness about protecting our beloved pets from those who would wish to do them harm.

It can seem very normal to walk to the shops with your dog, and tie them up outside while you pop in for something. Yet it takes less than a minute for someone to steal your dog. It can seem like you are doing the right thing, letting them run off their lead, yet this makes it so easy for someone to snatch them from you. It might even feel safe for you to leave them in the car, yet not only does that cause anxiety to the dog and can lead to death if done in hot climates, this also makes them an easy target.Even in your garden, you should be attentive and always know where your dog is.

These people do not want your pet because they are so cute, or because they want them for themselves. More often than not, these people steal pets for three reasons;

1. To sell them on through unscrupulous websites and make quick money. They will do no checks on where the animal is going, and could give them to anyone.
2. To use for dogfights. This can be either as the fighting dogs if they are large and viewed as being aggressive-prone dogs such as pit bulls, German Shepards etc or it can be smaller, weaker dogs or even cats which are used as bait for the larger dogs. For the smaller dogs, they will suffer from multiple wounds and a long death from their injuries, or would be brutally disposed of when they were no longer useful. Larger dogs will used again and again in fights until they are killed or are no longer usable, at which point they will be disposed of. They will be abused; hit, punched, kicked and starved every day, and will be treated as commodity to be used for money, nothing more.
3. If they are desirable dogs, or can be used in cross breeding, they will be put into a puppy farm.They will be bred again and again and again with other dogs. They will live in a cell or box, and never go outside. They will never know love again and will be abused every day. They will live in their own urine and faeces and will have no veterinary care. This will continue until their bodies can no longer be bred from, at which point they will be brutally killed.

No dog owner would want one of these fates for their dog. So I urge you to be vigilant with your dogs, and cats. Never leave your dog alone outside, tied up outside or loose in the garden. Always be with them, and keep them safe.

Please share this to stop more people losing their pets to these evil people. For further blog posts about puppy farming and dog theft please see the links. And dont forget to chip you pets!

For the paws.

Too Faced are Two Faced!

Too Faced use to be one of my favourite Cruelty Free brands – they offered great quality makeup for a good price and they seemed to truly care about animals…well thats all changed now!

Recently, Too Faced have sold their company to Estee Lauder, one of the leading large cosmetics brands that still allows animal testing to be used on their products. Now, some might argue that Too Faced are still Cruelty Free, however Estee Lauder owns the company and therefore a percentage of their profits goes to the parent company. Ultimately, if you buy from Too Faced, you are buying from Estee Lauder, and by buying through them and supporting them, you are supporting animal testing, and the thousands of animals who suffer so that Estee Lauder can sell their products in places like China.

 

I can’t understand why a brand, like Too Faced and Tarte, that claims to be Cruelty Free, and to love animals, would then sell out to a company like Estee Lauder! It seems to always come back to profits over values and animal welfare. Some brands do stick to their policies, and I am proud to support those who have an excellent stance on animal testing and seem to be truly Cruelty Free. Some brands just appear to be paying lip service to the idea so that more customers buy their products, and that seems to be what happened with Too Faced! It seems that they never truly cared about animal welfare, and the thousands of animals that suffer and die every year for the cosmetics industry, or else they would not have sold to Estee Lauder! They are two-faced about their values, their policies and have shown their true colours.They have now become another faceless brand that cares for profits instead of policies and sticking by them, that stand for money instead of for animals, and that the opinions of their consumers does not matter to them. Therefore I will not be supporting their brand anymore and will no longer be purchasing their products.

Please support TRUE Cruelty Free brands, such as theBalm, Paul Mitchell, Illamasque and Hourglass instead of false brands who only care for money instead of welfare.There are so many brands out there to choose from that are Cruelty Free, vegan and support animal welfare, so please support those who truly support animals.

For the paws.

A Plea to help save Beagles in the next 24 hours

This is a short, quick plea to you all to sign the below petition to stop Beagles being used in laboratory experiments.

https://www.change.org/p/hm-government-uk-abolish-the-breeding-for-use-of-beagles-for-animal-experimentation-in-the-uk

This is an extremely important petition that will be presented to 10 Downing Street on Thursday 24th November, and they only have around 24 hours left to get as many people to sign as possible.

This is a subject that I am very passionate about, for detailed explanations of the cruelties inflicted on beagles please see my previous posts here and here, and here for my post on puppy farming, where so many of the beagles used for experiments are bought from.

Beagles suffer immensely in these labs, and yet there is no reason for their pain as many of the tests that are inflicted on them have already been done! And its not just those trapped in the labatories, its the parents who constantly have to churn out puppies, living in filth and near seeing the light of day until they can no longer breed , so they are killed. None of these beagles feel grass on their paws or know the feeling of a loving hand. Thousands of beagles suffer and die in laboratories and puppy farms, and this needs to stop! They are so loving and loyal, and deserve to be loved and happy just as any other dog does.

Please also go the Run Free Alliance website and see the wonderful work they do for beagles and support their work. Beagles deserve to run free and be loved. PLEASE help save them from a short, painful life of tortue and a cruel, brutal death, help let them be free and loved.Please help that happen…

For the beagles xxx

iAnimal – Changing minds for factory animals

I recently found out about iAnimal, a truly amazing technology that allows a 360 degree immersive experience which takes people into the lives of animals trapped on factory farms and slaughterhouses to see how they live, suffer and die.

iAnimal is run by Animal Equality, an international animal protection organisation that works in 8 countries within Europe, America and Asia that investigates and exposes the truth of the lives of animals raised and killed for food. They hope to expose the truth and ultimately change the way people feel and approach animals for food. The footage used is from 18 month investigations within Mexico, the UK, Germany, Spain and Italy within factory farms and slaughterhouses.

Please take a moment to visit their website here and experience the reality of animals in factory farms and slaughterhouses. It may change the way you view these places, and the animals inside them.

I personally believe that factory farms should not exist;that the suffering caused inside them is intense and unnecessary, and the truth should be exposed of these farms. Factory farms for rabbits and small rodents should be completely abolished as there is no need for their intense suffering when it is simply for fur or pet food – we do not need animals to die for fashion and we dont need rabbits to suffer for pet food. All farm animals such as cows, pigs, chickens and sheep should be free range and allowed to live their lives peacefully on well looked after farms that are dotted all around the UK.

There also should be more supervision and protection in place for animals in slaughterhouses. This is a completely free area where abuse happens on a regular basis, and animals are terrified and in pain in their last moments, which they dont have to be. Please see my post here about this topic.

I think the iAnimal could force people to face the truth of these farms, and could really make a difference in animal welfare, and I applaud their efforts. I hope they continue to help change our views on animals on factory farms until true changes are made in this area.

For the paws x

Big News from the Netherlands!

There has been a big move forward for animal welfare in the Netherlands; The Dutch government is working to completely end animal experimentation in all capacities!

Around 7 months ago, The Netherlands passed a motion in Parliament to phase out primate experimentation, which meant labs had to reduce the number of tests carried out on monkeys, focusing instead on humane, non-animal testing methods.

Now the Dutch government has made it its goal to use only ‘human relevant, non-animal testing methods by 2025’! No other country has taken an oath like this for animals, and I think it shows the growing concern for animal welfare and the desire for the end of animal suffering to come about as soon as possible by people across the world. The changing attitude towards animals is spreading across the world, and I hope this signals the slow end of animal experimentation and exploitation.

This move away from animal experimentation will save thousands of dogs, cats, bunnies and more animals lives and will hopefully push more countries to do the same thing. If more European countries did this, not only would it save so many animals from short, painful lives of suffering and cruel deaths, but it also means we could put pressure on the Chinese government to end their animal testing, and ultimately begin the change in attitudes towards animals in China, a hub of animal cruelty in the world.

This will also make a massive change to science, bringing about cutting-edge experiments and developing methods in ways that could be interpreted as lazy and lax over the years. The fact that there is a date for the end of these experiments means there is an end in sight and labs have to actively show their move away from the use of animals in experiments, in comparison to the 3 Rs that we have in Britain, which means no lab is truly accountable in the same way. It will really push for this change to happen NOW, not later, in a few years, maybe when we get round to it.

I am so happy for this big victory for animals, and applaud the Dutch government for doing something so groundbreaking for animal welfare. Take note everyone, the Dutch did it first, but we should ALL follow in their footsteps towards a world free from animal suffering.

Rabbit Farms in Europe and the UK; Stop their Suffering!

Many of you may already know of the horror of angora farms in China, if not please see my blog post here, but do you know of the intense European rabbit battery farms that are all around Europe, and the UK as well?

These types of farms are incredibly cruel and cause intense suffering for the rabbits who are imprisoned there. These rabbits cannot behave in their normal manner as there is no room for them to move, stretch out, stand on their hind legs or even turn round. They cut their paws on the cages, and yet are often denied veterinary treatment. And as these are social creatures who, in the wild, live in large warrens with many other rabbits, they suffer mentally as well as females are cut off from other rabbits, whilst other females and males are confined to tiny cages with too many rabbits for them to move, which can cause fights and injuries.

They live a short, painful, isolated life, blighted by skeletal issues caused by the cages they are confined to, sore legs, infections in their eyes and develop behaviours that are detrimental to their health, such as excessive grooming and repetitive gnawing on the cage bars, both of which ultimately cause pain. Many die in their cages and are left to rot. They never see daylight. They never know love. They are killed when they are 11 weeks old.

Baby rabbits that are deemed too small are smashed against walls to die or left to fall between the bars of the cage and die of starvation in the pits of sewage below. Many other rabbits die of starvation, dehydration or disease, in fact, mortality rate often exceeds 20%. Female rabbits are often kept isolated and are artificially inseminated constantly to breed more rabbits. If they survive, when rabbits reach their optimum weight and age, they are electrically stunned to kill them, however this doesnt always work and rabbits suffer intensely before they finally die.

These farms are all over Europe, but many of these rabbits are ultimately bound to become pet food, imported in the UK and bought by unsuspecting pet owners. Leading retailers import 300,000 rabbits for pet food. I believe that the suffering caused to these rabbits is intense, cruel and wrong, and rabbit farming should be stopped.

Yet a proposal has been forward to Stafford County Council by a Romanian firm to open one of these farms in Gnosall, Staffordshire. They wish to farm, slaughter and sell rabbit meat and fur in the UK, as they believe the demand for rabbit meat and fur has the potential for profit. But there has been a backlash by the public opposing this rabbit prison.

I am asking you to sign this petition against this Staffordshire rabbit farm. We cannot allow this suffering to happen. Rabbits are sensitive, loyal, loving and socialable creatures who deserve more than a short life pilled with pain and suffering. Please sign the petition, share it with everyone you know, and see here to see how else you can help stop this barbaric farm from going ahead, and help save these bunnies from a horrific life.

But its not just this farm. UK retailers should not support this suffering in European farms by importing caged rabbit meat. So many of these farms do not meet animal welfare law standards, and the rabbits confined in there only know pain in their short lives. They deserve more, they deserve the love and freedom that so many rabbits have as pets in so many UK homes. So I ask you to sign this petition as well to ask retailers to stop their support of these cruel farms, and share it with everyone you know. Spread the word about the truth of rabbit farming, and its presence on our shelves in pet food, and help try to stop the suffering of these loving and innocent creatures.

Please help save rabbits from suffering in the UK.

For more information please go to the below links;

Four Paws

Compassion in Farming

Respect for Animals

Vegetarian Society

Daily Mail

ITV

 

For the paws x

Top 5 Sites to Shop Cruelty Free!

It can be so difficult to find shops on the high street that sell Cruelty Free items, I know I have struggled numerous times! So below are my top 5 websites who only stock Cruelty Free items, so you can shop to your hearts content! These websites include Cruelty Free and vegan products and range from skincare to makeup products.

1) CutECOsmetics

This company is excellent, I have used them a number of times for makeup as they supply some of the really top Cruelty Free makeup brands like Sugarpill, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics and theBalm. They are ‘an online eco, organic, vegan & cruelty free cosmetics specialist’ and family run! Their organic products are certified and all, and I do mean ALL, of their products are Cruelty Free.

They do free shipping over £40 and their products range from makeup, to skincare, to mum and baby products. I personally have found some new brands I love from there, like Hurraw! (BEST lip balm I have ever had!) and Shiro Cosmetics (nerdy makeup in stunning colours), and its so nice to be able to try anything and everything on their website.

 

2) There Must Be a Better Way

As someone who suffers from sensitive and acne prone skin, this website has been invaluable to me. They offer a wide range of products for numerous skin conditions from normal to sensitive to acne prone to people with eczema, and these range across all skin and body treatments. They also offer well-being, nutrition, baby, home and aromatherapy products as well

Their products are harmful chemicals and pollutants free, and offer 100% vegetarian (most of which is vegan), fair trade, sustainable Cruelty Free products. They have a strict Integrity Ingredients policy which states that they do not carry any items which contain animal by products of any kind, including animal hair in brushes and all products have to comply with their no animal testing policy. They audit and update their ingredients list regularly and ensure their suppliers adhere to this.

They are also very friendly and are happy to help with any queries you might have for what kind of products might suit your skin/needs. I have bought numerous items from this site and will continue to use them as its such as great source for skincare that is Cruelty Free and that doesn’t affect my skin.

3)Honesty Cosmetics

This company has been manufacturing Cruelty Free products since before it was such a hot issue, in 1984. Their products are endorsed by the Vegan Society, BUAV, the Ethical Company Organisation and Naturewatch, but they also stock other brands who are animal and environmentally friendly, and some organic products too.

They stock products that are vegetarian, vegan and Cruelty Free but more than that, they come from companies who believe in what they are selling and their vegan/vegetarian/Cruelty Free beliefs are part of their core business ethical as well as personally believing in it too (see my last blog to read about companies who don’t believe in what they are selling…).

4) I Choose What I Use

This company stocks men, womens and childrens skincare as well as aromatherapy and sun care products. An excellent feature of this website is that you can filter by which certification you want to shop by e.g. only looking at PETA approved products or Fair Trade products.

They only sell Cruelty Free and vegan products, the majority of which are made up of naturally derived products. They are an excellent company which you should definitely check out.

5) PHB Ethical Beauty

This isn’t a stockist website like the other 4, however I have included this website as I believe it to be an excellent resource for those looking for Cruelty Free, vegan and ethical products.

PHB products are made in the UK, Cruelty Free, vegan, halal certified, palm oil free and organic! Phew! Plus, 20% of their profit goes to charity, so they really do seem to be a really great company, and one that Cruelty Freers and vegans alike can shop with, with no worries about what the products contain and where their money might be going.

Image from Cosmeti.co.uk

Of course, you can also buy own-brand products from Supermarkets such as Marks and Spencers (though they do sell leather and other animal products), Tesco, Sainsburys and Aldi, all of which are Cruelty Free, available to most people and at a great price!

So please think about going Cruelty Free and help stop cruelty to animals!

For the Paws xx

 

 

 

 

Should we Support Trendy Lip Service?

Today I thought I would write about something that has been bothering me about one of my cosmetic brands, for a change of pace.

I went through a phase not long ago when I was completely obsessed with Jeffree Star cosmetics and was dying to buy his products. However, being in the UK it was slightly more difficult to get the colours I wanted and had to resort to a US company.

The reason I went for Jeffree Star makeup, and why I was so excited about it, was four-fold;

1. The whole line is cruelty free and vegan, which is obviously a non-negotiable aspect for me.
2. He did liquid lipsticks that STAYED in place. I have always loved lipstick but really hated the transfer I would get from drinking tea or kissing my boyfriend, plus the move onto tea, the staining of teacups and the Robert-Smith-style smear of lipstick all over your face after kissing…not pretty to anyone. And because of all this movement, you would have to reapply lipstick at least 2-3 times a day. To know I could buy a liquid lipstick without buying from a cruel brand was awesome!
3. The liquid lipsticks came in number of bright and interesting colours – now I’m a girl who ALWAYS wears red lipstick to work, and in the evenings and weekends loves to play with black, blue, green, purple…pretty much any colour I can get other than nude. To find a company that was Cruelty Free AND did this wide range of colours in liquid lipstick was so great. And the fact they were eye safe opened up a whole new world of make-up playing in my future.
4. The fact that it was a ‘trendy’ brand (and I tend to steer clear of these because they generally are not Cruelty Free) meant I knew the brand would be easier to get in the UK and would probably continue to bring our new and interesting products. Plus for once, it was nice to be included and understand what everyone was talking about.

So when I made my first purchases, after extensive research into his brand, I was very excited to try them out and loved how they applied and looked. So with my new found love of his products, I began to follow Jeffree Star on YouTube. And this was where my problem occurred.

As I watched video after video of tutorials of his where he applied his flawless makeup, I noticed that he was using a lot of products that weren’t Cruelty Free, such as L’Oreal, MAC and Benefit, all of which are NOT Cruelty Free. Now, as I said previously, he has stated many times that his products are Cruelty Free, yet he himself is clearly not.

So my question is this; Can I support a brand that itself is Cruelty Free, knowing that whilst my money is not supporting a cruel brand or any animal testing, it is going to someone who is buying Non-Cruelty-Free products and supporting the brands that I loathe with all my being and the suffering they cause to animals for profit?

This has left me with quite the debate. I love his products, I think he is a very interesting person and I love men who wear makeup/are drag queens. I also love his brand and the products I am buying are Cruelty Free, yet, in my mind, my money ultimately is ending up in the hands of L’Oreal through Jeffree Star and therefore I am supporting animal testing. Or am I over-thinking this? Therefore, Jeffree Star and his products have raised an issue for me that I haven’t thought of before but is making me question other brands I support.

I know that I would prefer to buy from and support people who are Cruelty-Free themselves as well as their brand and who  believe the same things I do; that animal testing is archaic and cruel, and has no place in the modern world we live in. That it is barbaric and the brands that allow this to occur in their name for profit are evil. That one day, I hope animals will be free from pain and suffering caused by humans who harm and kill them for so many reasons – vanity; in clothes, cosmetics and cleaning, for reasons that no longer exist; animal testing for medical use when it no longer applies nor yields the best results, for food; the suffering and death of dogs, cats and rabbits caused in Asia and the surrounding area just for a snack. I want my money to support the brands that believe this and take no part in any of these cruel practices. So I guess this limits me down once again with my choice of brands and products.

Ultimately it feels to me like someone who creates a brand that is Cruelty Free whilst not believing in animal welfare, and supporting other brands that are Not-Cruelty-Free is just paying lip service to those who care about animals just to bring more money in. It feels like they are playing at being Cruelty-Free without knowing or caring about animal testing, and what it means to those of us who truly care. It feels like it is being done, once again, for money and profits, not the welfare of animals.

And yet we do want to support those brands that are Cruelty-Free so hopefully it will become more widespread, more brands will become Cruelty-Free, and those large corporate companies that care only for money will understand that more and more people want Cruelty-Free products and they will not support brands that are involved in this practice. By doing this, by showing the big brands that Cruelty-Free is the only way to make money, we can ultimately stop animal testing for cosmetics and create this change throughout the world. But that’s a long way off yet, and until more people UNDERSTAND what Cruelty-Free means and choosing not to support these brands, we have to support those brands who want this future too.

This is probably a ramble, and yet it is an issue that has been bothering me recently. I know there is a lot of bashing and bad-mouthing about Jeffree Star going on at the moment, but I personally am only really interested in his brand and his products, on the question of supporting a Cruelty-Free Brand not owned by a cruel brand but ultimately giving its money to a brand that not only supports but conducts animal testing on their products. Its a conundrum.

My conclusion is that I dont think I will be repurchasing Jeffree Stars makeup. I believe that if I am going to spend my money on companies that are Cruelty-Free, I want to know that that is a philosophy that the owners themselves support and is part of their lives as much as it is my own. And its easier to spot those companies that obviously are owned by true Cruelty-Free people, such as Hourglass, Illamasqua and Too Faced. I think I will now be more exclusive with my brand choices and really support those who are truly Cruelty-Free and actively want to end animal testing and animal suffering throughout the world.

Please do leave your thoughts down below if you have anything to add about this, or your own perspective as I would love to hear the opinion of someone else who is Cruelty-Free.

For the paws x

Stop Yulin 2016

June 21st.

Days away.

Soon the brutal torture and murder of innocent dogs and cats will begin.

The Yulin Festival will once again be being ‘celebrated’ in China this year on June 21st, despite last years disgust and outcry against the festival, and the 11 million signed petition being presented to the Chinese government only days ago.

I have already written about the Horrors of the Dog Meat trade with all the details of why some Asian people believe in torturing, killing and eating dogs and cats throughout the year but specifically during the Yulin Festival. The suffering and torment of the dogs who are stolen from their families, tortured horrifically with blow torches, boiling acid and blunt instruments before their throats are slit, all whilst they are still alive and conscious  is barbaric and just plain evil.

Whilst many might say that the Yulin Festival is a tradition rooted within Chinese culture, this festival only began in 2010 by dog meat traders to try and bring up the sales of dog meat which were flagging. Others might say that eating dog is the same as Westerners eating cows, pigs or chickens, yet we DO NOT torture every single animal before they are killed and do not begin cutting into them whilst they are still fully alive and conscious. There are exceptions to this but they do not stand for the industry as a whole in comparison to the dog meat industry where it is not just common place but accepted and encouraged to torture the dogs to ‘improve the flavour’. And we do not eat farm animals to improve our sexual prowess. There is a marked difference in our treatment of farm animals and the dogs and cats who suffer in China.

People all over the world have cried out against the cruelty and asked for the festival to be ended. There has more coverage on the festival, and China as a whole, over the last few years than ever before, and it is because of social media. There have been more articles written and celebrities speaking out against this than ever before, just see below for all the articles written in the last few months about this festival from all over the world.

Articles from 2016

Daily Mail – Vanderpumps Stand Against Yulin

Next Shark – End Yulin

The Independent 

TIME

The Huffington Post – 200 Rescued but More to Save

CNBC

HSI – Stars Against Yulin

The Inquisitr – Rejection of petition in London but acceptance in China

IBTimes

The Quint

The Times of India

Blog – Waterthruskin

Travel – Aol

One Green Planet

Washington Post

NPR

NY Times

Metro

IBTimes – Yulin Still Going Ahead Despite Global Outcry

Blog – Humane Society CEO

BBC

ITV

The Independent – New Pictures of the Nightmare of Yulin

The Express

The Huffington Post – Help End the Barbaric Trade

These two websites have a wealth of information as well as how to get involved, support them and donate to the cause, all listed here;

The Humane Society International – Dog Meat Trade

• Shutting Down the Dog Meat Trade Campaign
• Ricky Gervais says Yulin is Heartbreaking as HSI saves his little dog from Yulin
• Donate to Save Dogs from Yulin
• Sign the pledge against the Dog Meat Trade

Stop Yulin Forever

Voiceless Friends

And so I ask you, days before this horrific spectacle of human cruelty begins, to think about those dogs who will be boiled alive, have their legs cut off, burned alive, bludgeoned, cut and tortured for entertainment and for snacks. Think of your own dog or dogs you know and love, and imagine it happening to them. Imagine the terror your dog would experience and the fear and agony you would feel if you knew that was where your dog was going. Think of all the pain and suffering they will undergo…for a snack. For male sexual potency. For entertainment.

Think of this. And if your heart breaks like mine does, please sign the below petitions and think of donating to one of the sites at the bottom of the page.

Petitions

Change – Stop The Yulin Dog Meat Festival

Change – Goverment of China, Stop the Torture of Dogs at Yulin Festival

Avaaz – Stop the Puppy Slaughter

iheartdogs -Government of China – Save Thousands of Animals Now

Animal Asia – End Yulin Festival

UK Goverment and Parlaiment – Urge the South Korean Government to end the Brutal Dog Meat Trade

iheartdogs – End the Yulin Dog Meat Festival

Care2 – Stop Yulin Dog Meat Festival

The Petition Site – Stop Yulin 2016

The Petition Site – End Yulin Dog Meat Festival

Donate

There is a fundraiser happening to help save some of the dogs bound for slaughter, you can find this at Change – Help Us Provide Direct Emergency Care for the Dogs in Yulin

The Humane Society International is doing amazing work in China and has already saved hundreds of dogs. They work throughout the year to stop the consumption and torture of dogs. You can donate to them here.

This needs to stop. Please show your love and support for these dogs who will die this year and try to stop more being killed for nothing.

 

 

 

Duty Free Cruelty Free?

I recently went on holiday with my boyfriend and we travelled through Gatwick North Terminal. As many of you know, buying duty free items is significantly less than buying them on the high street, so I was eager to see what was available and if I could snag some of my favourite brands at a good price.

However, I was dismayed to go through the entire lounge at Gatwick and discover that there were NO Cruelty Free brands or items available at the airport. Throughout the entire duty free shop, there were many beauty and perfume brands, however the majority of these were high-end designer brands, all of which were not Cruelty Free. There were also no shops/brands that sell Cruelty Free items outside of the main duty free shops; there were bag shops with leather items (and I do not trust buying leather anymore after my Dog Leather post), alcohol shops, electronic shops, and book shops but no beauty or lifestyle brands to buy from. This meant that I was unable to make ANY purchases, other than food from WH Smiths.

Considering that there are many higher end, trendy brands out there that ARE Cruelty Free, such as Jeffree Star, Too Faced, Illamasqua and Sugarpill, there should be no reason why these brands cannot appear within Gatwicks duty free shops.

I think that this is appalling; Cruelty Free and vegan lifestyles are far more common than they ever use to be and yet they are not catered for or even represented at all within Gatwick Airport. There should be the option to shop at the airport for Cruelty Free/Vegan people, and to take advantage of the duty free perks of being at the airport. Representation of lifestyle choice should be available in all shopping places, as it is to some extent on the high street and Gatwick is simply not representing a large portion of the UK market, which I think is a huge oversight on their part and ultimately means they are losing money, and quite a lot I think as people do stock up at the airport…