Harrods

Harrods, in London, is one of the most

famous department stores in the world. It
sells everything from designer hats to
chocolate biscuits, and until a few years ago
it also sold pets. In fact Harrods had the
most famous pet shop in Europe on its
fourth floor. Rich and famous animal lovers
went there to buy expensive presents for
their special pets: funny costumes for
rabbits and birthday cakes for horses!
Some of the animals that you could buy in
Harrods pet department were almost as exotic as the ones at London Zoo like lizards, spiders
and snakes. And before the 1970s you could also buy the most dangerous animals in the world
there, like tigers, lions, panthers and leopards!
Famous visitors to the Harrods pet shop include the writer Noel Coward, who bought an
alligator there one Christmas, and the US president Ronald Reagan who got a baby elephant
from the store.
In 1969, the store sold a baby lion to two Australian tourists for 250 guineas (about £ 3,500
today). John Rendall, the man who bought the lion, eventually took il back to Africa when it
grew too big for his flat. But times change and in 2014 new regulations said that Harrods
couldn’t continue to keep animals in the store. The last dogs, cats, rabbits and chinchillas
were sold, and the pet hairdresser’s, which offered designer dog haircuts, moved to a new
shop in central London.

ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.

1 What is Harrods?
2 Where is it?
3 What can you buy there?
4 What could you buy for your pet in Harrods pet shop?
5 What did Noel Coward buy?
6 What did President Ronald Reagan buy?
7 How much did the Australian tourists pay for the lion?
8 Why did John Rendall took the lion back to Africa?
9 What happened in 2014?
10 Have you got a pet? If not, would you like to have one?
11 What is your favourite exotic animal? Why?
12 Have you ever visited a zoo?