[Weatherlight]

I hope this isn't topping a thread that's too old.

This is an interesting question and I've read all sorts of opinions on the peta2 forums years back. One was a twist on the "looking like a hypocrite" one. If someone sees you on the street in your leather shoes, they can notice it sub/unconsciously and it will reinforce their belief yet another time that it's fine, everyone uses leather. By that argument, you shouldn't use synthetic fur or leather where other people will see it, nor eat fake meats, even eat a cooked dish where it's not obvious whether there are animal products in it or not. They might mistake any of these as another "oh, yes, it's normal to use animal products" scene.

There is the "get someone to not buy in a way that increases demand" which is very valid in a utilitarian way. Feeling like a corpse peddler doesn't appeal to me but it could make a small difference. Personally if I knew someone who was looking to buy a leather product, I'd most try to talk them into a vegan alternative. Donating to a thrift store could be ok. If I were working closely with an animal rescue organization, I'd ask them to reconsider helping other animals by peddling animal corpses. It's one problem I have with many shelters, rescues, and sanctuaries. Places like Home At Last Animal Sanctuary have a lot of respect from me, and I know they'll never fundraise with corpse barbeques or auctioning animal products.

Touching any corpse doesn't appeal to me. That's my main reason for avoiding touching leather--just because I find it gross (the way I find bananas gross)--which is not relevant to morality. Giving non-vegan items to fellow vegans or freegans who are in need of them and don't have any problem with using them could be an idea.

I think you should just ask yourself, what if they came from human bodies instead, and you were in a world where it was widespread and accepted to capture, manufacture, raise, slaughter, and use humans this way? When I find myself slipping into automatic (old) mindsets, I ask myself this. It lets me get perspective on whether or not I am thinking in a speciesist way.

it's a waste and it's as if the animal died for nothing

I always found this argument interesting. If someone murdered me for money or some similar reason, and my body or part/s of my body was/were just there, and if someone else was trying to decide what to do with it, would I care if it was "wasted" and I "died for nothing"? Would I be any happier if someone came along and made "good use" of my body by, say, making a wig of my hair, preserving my eyeballs as a decoration for their desk, and using a patch of skin as a coaster? (The example I used to give in response to this sort of thought might not be appreciated here, heh.) It's not disrespecting me to not use my dead body.

Of course, being a being capable of abstract thought and reasoning about the future and my death, I wouldn't like my body to be wasted when I can't care about what happens to it ever again. So I approve of things like voluntarily deciding (now) to donate organs (when dead) to help other people live. (Even a nonvegan person! *gasp* ...Really, I knew people who were that utilitarian.) Not so much for someone to get entertainment value or similar out of it.

That said, I would spend the time worrying about the stuff you already have doing something positive for animals. Go visit some kitties at a shelter or something.

Is it not worthwhile to put some thought into the respect of animals? Cats are the animal species killed most in my country due to homelessness. Millions per year in the US. How many billions of animals in the US do you think are slaughtered for meat, fur, leather, etc? I can't judge which does more good for the world--mindlessly petting a few homeless cats for a few hours vs pondering personal decisions regarding one's animal-based property. The cats will be happier for a while (assuming, you know...). The decision may result in some less support for animal slaughter. I think whoever does which, it is spending time related to helping animals, and in amounts that can't accurately be measured, so I won't vote in a competition.

I agree with the above- you already have those items from before you stopped using animal products, so why get rid of them? You have to draw a line somewhere- humans have been using animals for thousands (tens of thousands?) of years- so even if you were to, say- but Mennonite organic grains- ox plowed the field. Or cow poo fertilized it...

I don't think the two (what to do about animal products in one's possesision vs how much one decides to help animals) have anything to do with each other.

Then bury everything. They are dead bodies, after all.

In this case I'd prefer an enclosed landfill, because...

I too was going to suggest burying/composting your items

...this leather will be very well-preserved with toxic chemicals.