Fur ban: West Hollywood tentatively OKs nation's first fur ban

Fur ban: The City Council on Monday gave first approval to a modified version of a sales ban on clothing made from the skin or pelt of animals with hair, wool or fur.

The display window of a fur store is pictured in West Hollywood, California Sept. 23. Taking a stand for animal rights over fashion, the tiny, tony municipality of West Hollywood is set to impose a ban on the sale of fur clothing within its boundaries.

Mario Anzuoni/Reuters

November 8, 2011

West Hollywood is moving toward becoming the first U.S. city to ban the sale of fur.

The City Council on Monday gave first approval to a modified version of a sales ban on clothing made from the skin or pelt of animals with hair, wool or fur.

The modified version permits the sale of used clothing privately, by retailers including pawn shops and by nonprofits such as thrift shops.

A final vote could come on Nov. 21 but the city also wants to study the potential impact of a ban and the ordinance wouldn't take effect until 2013.

West Hollywood has long been known for its animal-friendly laws. It bans declawing of cats and pets are formally recognized as "companions" while their owners are "guardians."t