Click to watch video

Many people refuse to buy products made from animal pelts, opting instead for “faux fur,” thinking they are sparing the animals. 

But in some cases, the substitute is unfathomable.

Dogs and cats are being used to make coats that are bought and sold right here in Texas. 

At Chico’s on West Gray, you’ll find lots of different fashions.  What you won’t find, is fur.

But in some stores in Houston, that is not the case. 

Here in the U.S., dogs are seen as a source of companionship, not clothing.

But in China, which provides more than half of all fur products sold in the U.S., dogs and cats serve another purpose, as a recent disturbing video shot by the Humane Society of the United States gruesomely reveals.

“We went to warehouses with stacks and stacks of pelts from golden retrievers and other dogs. Millions of dogs and cats killed for their fur, with that fur finding its way into fur trim sold in Western markets,” Wayne Pacelle of the Humane Society said.

Although dog and cat fur were banned seven years ago, the HSUS recently purchased either online or in person 25 coats with fur trim from 17 retailers – two of them based in Texas, Neiman Marcus and JC Penney – and some of the testing came back domesticated dog.

German shepard, collie and the like, and consumers were unwittingly and unknowingly buying domesticated dog fur, even though it’s forbidden in this country.

In many cases, the fur had come from raccoon dogs, which resemble raccoons but are K-9s. Some of the consumers in question were under the impression they were buying faux fur.

Currently, if the value of the fur is under $150, the law doesn’t require retailers to label the species or country of origin.

Neiman Marcus and JC Penney did not return 11 News’ calls on the matter.

Meanwhile, the HSUS says unless legislation pending in Congress is passed, consumers will continue buying blind.