WA RESIDENTS: Mink farming is a cruel, outdated process. However, more than 3 million pelts are skinned from animals each year in the U.S. And you may be surprised to know that many of those come from Washington state. Like all forms of concentrated farming, minks on farms are deprived of the ability to engage in any natural behaviors. These naturally wild animals are confined to tiny cages before they are killed by anal or oral electrocution, neck breaking or suffocation. In addition to this suffering, it has been discovered that in these concentrated conditions, minks can harbor COVID-19, including mutated versions of the virus, which has the potential to contribute to a new pandemic wave.