Fur Ban Earns West Hollywood PETA's Proggy Award

West Hollywood just earned itself some new bragging rights. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) awarded Weho its Proggy Award as "Most Compassionate U.S. City of 2011” Wednesday for banning the sale of apparel fur. The Proggy Award's name is short for "progress."

“Thank you for helping to make the world a kinder place,” Tracy Reiman, executive vice president of the animal rights organization, announced in a letter to Mayor John Duran just days after prohibiting the sale of fur apparel products.

The ordinance, which will go into effect Sept. 21, 2013, is meant to encourage the promotion of West Hollywood as a destination for cruelty-free and animal welfare events, "the Humane Capital of the United States," the city wrote in a statement.

West Hollywood has consistently approved animal welfare legislation, including supporting Proposition 2 (prohibiting the confinement of farm animals), banning the retail sale of dogs and cats in companion animal stores, and becoming the first in the nation to outlaw cat declawing.

"The City of West Hollywood’s commitment to civil rights, human rights and animal rights is one of its most cherished legacies," said the city in a statement.

The City Council will consider adoption of the ordinance on second reading at its regularly scheduled council meeting on Nov. 21 at 6:30 p.m.

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