According to America's Humane Society, which highlighted the trade, the focus of exports is now Europe, where fluffy cat and dog skins now account for a large number of coat trims, snow-boot linings and hairbands in even the most respectable mainstream shops with consumers, and probably the shops themselves, blissfully unaware that they are buying and selling ex-Rovers and Felixes.

ECONOMIST: How much is that dead doggy in the window?

With generous help from our partner Noetic Group, we got started and then boot-strapped the whole operation, building from one client to another, creating a snow-ball effect.

FORBES: Move up http://i.forbesimg.com t Move down

That includes Springfield, where windy conditions will precede the possibility of up to 3 inches of snow and sleet Thursday, with the possibility of a quarter of an inch or more of ice to boot.

CNN: 30 million in path of winter storm