SAN DIEGO -- Thirty people conducted an anti-fur protest without incident in front of several stores at the Fashion Valley Shopping Center Friday, according to a police spokeswoman and a group organizer.

Members of the Animal Protection and Rescue League earlier this afternoon held signs and handed out pamphlets in front of the mall's Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales and Burberry stores, said Bryan Pease, an attorney with the animal rights group.

No arrests were made or citations issued, said Monica Munoz of the San Diego Police Department.

Pease said he believes the group got its point across.

“For every fur coat made, an average of 40 animals had to die,” said Pease, who added the animals raised for fur are kept in tiny cages and often suffer painful deaths by gassing or electrocution.

Representatives with Burberry, Bloomingdales and Neiman Marcus did not return requests for comment.

A representative from the Coronado-based Fur Commission could not be reached for comment. However, according to the commission's Web site, fur production is regulated by the American Veterinary Medical Association and must adhere to state animal cruelty laws.

There are federal and state laws that ensure that “humane euthanasia” methods, such as injection or electric currents applied to the brain, are carried out on animals raised for fur, according to the Web site.

The mall's general manager, Robert Doherty, wrote a letter to the group, saying it was using the center as a public forum and must have a required permit, or possibly face arrest or prosecution.

However, Pease said the city municipal code has an exception to its trespassing ordinance for peaceful picketing on private property that is open to the public, so no permit is necessary.