The black makeshift coffin on the walkway sat in stark contrast to the festive Christmas decorations hanging above Dublin's Grafton Street yesterday.
Protesters from the Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade (CAFT)dressed in black and wore gruesome Halloween masks outside some of the capital's prominent fur retailers. They had stuffed the coffin with real fur spattered with red poster paint.
"We wanted something that would visually attract attention," said Laura Broxson, a CAFT spokeswoman. "Normally, we use megaphones."
The protest was trying to convince people not to buy fur for Christmas, said Ms Broxson. Activists distributed leaflets showing a photograph of caged mink, likening fur farms to concentration camps and urging people to discuss the issue with their TD.
Starting at Barnardo Furriers on Grafton Street, the protest moved south to Brown Thomas, and then to Rohu Furriers Ltd in Castle Market and Sydney Vard Furriers in South Anne Street.
Protests did not adversely affect business for Barnardo's yesterday, according to the outlet's managing director. In fact, she said, it may have even helped it.
"People have come in to show their solidarity with us," said Caroline Barnardo. "Irish people are all one generation away from farming, and they know how animals have to be looked after."