North Vancouver fur company Capilano Furs has been targeted by a radical animal rights activist group called the Animal Liberation Front.
Eugen Klein's home-based fur coat business was vandalized on Thanksgiving Sunday. Vandals slashed the tires of his son's girlfriend's car parked in the driveway and spread black tar all over the house.
At first, Klein had no idea why his home was targeted.
"I wish I would have caught the guy. I would feel better then," he said.
He spent days wondering who was responsible until he discovered the name of his fur business on the ALF's website.
"I think this is just cowardly," he said.
The group has since claimed responsibility.
The ALF is an underground network operating in more than 40 countries. Known mainly for removing animals from laboratories and farms, they also sometimes vandalize property in what they refer to as economic sabotages.
Jerry Vlasak, spokesperson for the ALF, said the black tarry substance that was dumped on Klein's home is a message to quit selling fur coats.
"It makes him think twice about what he's doing. He knows he's on the radar now and he's going to have to live with that for the rest of his life. He's going to be looking over his shoulder," he said.
Klein said he has been targeted before and it doesn't bother him.
"It only twice happened in my lifetime so I don't pay too much attention," Klein said.
On the same night that Klein's home was vandalized, the group says it chained and padlocked the doors of Vancouver restaurant Sun Sui Wah because it offers shark fin soup on the menu. A nearby clothing company was also targeted.
Klein is confused by the message the group is sending.
"They're not really enhancing their own causes by doing this at night with masks and things like that. People are not going to support things like that," he said.
Klein's house will be repaired soon and he doesn't think the vandalism will slow down his business. He said he has nothing to do with trapping or mistreating animals in any way.
The ALF states that anyone connected to the fur trade is a target and the group will continue vandalizing businesses like this until they stop selling fur.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Brent Shearer
