By Brent Richter
\nNorth Shore News<\/p>\n
A radical animal rights group has claimed responsibility for an attack on Real Housewives of Vancouver cast member Jody Claman’s West Vancouver clothing boutique.<\/p>\n
Activists from the Animal Liberation Front publicized their unapologetic communiqu\u00e9 on Bite Back magazine’s website Wednesday morning, claiming responsibility for spray-painting “ALF” on the door of Glass House Couture and spraying a noxious chemical inside on Thursday last week. The activists targeted the store because Claman sells fur there and because she is known to wear fur on TV.<\/p>\n
“Jody Claman supports and promotes the abuse, torture and murder of tens of thousands of innocent furry animals on her stupid TV show Real Housewives of Vancouver,” the statement reads. “She has a reputation for wearing dozens of dead animals in the form of her grotesque full fur coats. She prances around through her useless, meaningless life looking like a psychotic bastard child of Cruella Deville (sic) and Barbie.”<\/p>\n
The anonymous group admits to squirting a foul liquid through the door to destroy anything it touched and to painting ALF on the door to remind Claman she is under surveillance by animal liberationists. The activists then vow to escalate their campaign against Claman if she continues to sell and wear fur.<\/p>\n
“If we ever find fur in your store again or on your stupid show, we’ll see you at home next time,” they say.<\/p>\n
Claman could not be reached for comment but told the Province last week that the fur sold in her store is second-hand.<\/p>\n
ALF calls that a lie.<\/p>\n
West Vancouver police have seen the ALF claim and continue to investigate. “The investigation is ongoing. We don’t have an identified suspect. We’re aware there’s been online postings with regard to it and those are being examined as part of the overall investigation,” said Const. Jeff Palmer, West Vancouver Police Department spokesman.<\/p>\n
Because of the noxious substance, Claman’s other business Jody’s Fine Foods and Catering, which operates at the same site, has been ordered closed by Vancouver Coastal Health until all the food on the site is disposed of and the business has been inspected.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
By Glenda Luymes
\nThe Province<\/p>\n
A West Vancouver luxury boutique owned by Jody Claman of Real Housewives of Vancouver fame was allegedly vandalized Thursday night for selling fur.<\/p>\n
Claman said the storefront was splattered with paint and tagged with the letters ALF \u2014 which presumably stand for Animal Liberation Front.<\/p>\n
But the reality-TV star placed most of the blame for the attack on her co-star and nemesis, Mary Zilba.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am being targeted because she told people I sell fur [in the store],\u201d Claman told The Province<\/i>.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s ridiculous.\u201d<\/p>\n
Claman said that, while her store, Glass House Couture, does sell fur, most of it is vintage or sourced from places such as Finland where animals are treated ethically.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t believe in killing innocent animals,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
A note on the store\u2019s Facebook page <\/b><\/a>advertises fur and feather vests, pointing to numerous stars and celebrities who were photographed this fall wearing fur.<\/p>\n West Vancouver RCMP said they are conducting a mischief investigation. An unusual odour prompted police to close Clyde Avenue for a few hours while HAZMAT teams investigated, but no health risks were found, said Const. Jeff Palmer.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have no suspects at this time,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n An ALF spokesman in the United States told The Province<\/i> he hasn\u2019t been contacted by Vancouver activists claiming responsibility for the vandalism, but the letters on Claman\u2019s shop are a good indication it was the group.<\/p>\n Several Vancouver stores that sell fur have been targeted by ALF in recent months.<\/p>\n