(Editor's Note: This is a real story and not a made up fantasy idea from a fevered imagination in a post satire world)
The UK branch of the organisation 'People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' (PETA) have tirelessly campaigned against barbaric activities such as seal clubbing, the meat and fur trade. They are a campaign group for animal rights, a laudable and noble aim.
Yet they seem to have turned their attention to Barbarians. And Elves. And Orcs. And Dragons?
Yes, they have launched a call for the successful high street retailer Games Workshop to ban “fur” from Warhammer characters. The letter to the CEO of Games Workshop stated that while they recognise that Warhammer characters are fictional, they feel that “draping them in what looks to be a replica of a dead animal sends the message that wearing fur is acceptable – when, in fact, it has no more place in 2017 than it would in the year 40,000”
Click here to read the PETA letter to Games Workshop
Reaction from the gaming community has been one of confusion and surprise. One forum post summarised that maybe “mankind finally ran out of companies abusing actual, real-life animals already?” Another lamented, with his tongue firmly in his cheek, that there is “no mention of the models wearing flayed human skin...so that is O.K then”.
Through a torrent of twitter comments about endangered fictitious animals and plastic foxes, perhaps PETA have achieved some success in gaining some free publicity for their cause, or have they damaged their campaign aims by focusing on absurd fictitious characters?
How much do teenagers and adult gamers influence the fashionable fur trade? This quiet unassuming sector of society might one day find themselves under the beady eye of PETA for their love of leather jackets and jerkins, but perhaps they should target the Zaragoza grannies and their love of the anti Cierzo fur coat first.
Here at Bulldog we are considering a petition as a matter of urgency to protect Dire Wolves from extinction and outlawing all use of animal pelts across the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. We urge our readers to join us in this campaign rather than signing online petitions calling upon the cancellation of King Joffrey's visit to the North.
Where does it end? Do we ban illustrated history books? Will Vikings, Romans and Cavemen become illegal on our TV?