Three animal rights activists were arrested following an anti-fur protest outside Hartleys fashion store in High St, Auckland today.
Nine policemen and four firefighters released the young women who had chained themselves to the front of the store.
Five shoppers were trapped inside for about an hour. Theyincluded a 71-year-old woman who said she had a "rotten heart condition." She said: "It was scary...We got an awful fright."
Supporters from the local animal rights group, Auckland Animal Action, thronged the pavement as the three were led away by police.
The protesters claimed the store was selling rabbit fur from rabbits farmed in allegedly cruel conditions in China. Some of the animals were skinned alive the group said.
The protest followed a similar incident at Hartleys in the 277 shopping complex in Newmarket earlier in the day.
Owner Hartley Vincent confirmed his High St store was selling a handful of garments with collars made from rabbit fur from China but said there was no evidence to suggest the animals had been cruelly treated.
Asked if he would find out he said "for the amount we have got" it was not worth it.
"There are lots of stores selling similar products," he said.
"At the end of the day it is the customers' choice whether they buy rabbit fur or not."
No details of the charges against the activists were available from police earlier today.
