ANIMAL LOVERS? O Over ver half half the the homes homes in in Britain Britain have have pets pets and and as as aa result, result, the the British British spend spend almost almost aa thousand thousand million million pounds pounds aa year year on on domestic domestic animals animals In In fact, fact, many many people people treat treat their their pets pets like like members members of of the the family family Pets Pets can can actually actually enhance enhance our our lives lives and and health health Childless Childless couples couples often often keep keep aa pet pet because because they they need need to to play play the the role role of of parent parent to to strengthen strengthen their their identity identity as as couple couple Lonely, Lonely, elderly elderly people people may may keep keep aa pet, pet, such such as as aa cat cat or or aa dog dog for for company company or or protection protection Pets Pets have have also also been been used used in in therapy therapy to to help help retarded retarded youngsters youngsters develop develop aa sense sense of of responsibility responsibility and and self-worth self-worth However, However, while while we we treat treat our our own own animals animals with with love love and and devotion, devotion, do we we care care about about the the way way the the society society at at large large treat treat animals? animals? In In 2000, 2000, almost almost three three million million experiments experiments on on animals animals took took place place These These included included warfare warfare experiments experiments and and the the testing testing of of drugs, drugs, cosmetics cosmetics and and cleaning cleaning fluids fluids Animals Animals are are also also slaughtered slaughtered for for their their meat, meat, skins skins and and fur fur In In many many cases, cases, these these animals animals are are kept kept in in terrible terrible conditions conditions and and are are cruelly cruelly treated treated by by private private companies companies and and governments governments alike alike However, However, thanks thanks to to PETA PETA (People (People for for the the Ethical Ethical Treatment Treatment of of Animals) Animals) and and Uncaged Uncaged (organisation (organisation which which fights fights vivisection vivisection in in the the UK), UK), there there is is aa light light at at the the end end of of the the tunnel tunnel With With slogans slogans like like “Buy “Buy aa fur fur and and slip slip into into something something dead” dead” or or brochures brochures on on the the cruelty cruelty of of vivisection, vivisection, these these organisations organisations are are forcing forcing consumers, consumers, private private industry industry and and governments governments to to examine examine their their consciences consciences ARE THE FOLLOWING TRUE OR FALSE? ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS: A) The British are a nation of animal lovers 1.- Why British spend so much money on domestic animals? B) For some people, pets are like their own children C) Pets are a danger for our health D) Lonely people need a cat for protection E) Pet therapy can help mentally handicapped children F) In Britain, experiments on animals are rare By Charo Díez 2.- What is the result of having pets for childless couples? _ 3.- What is the result of having pets for retarded youngsters? _ 4.- What kind of experiments are carried out on animals? _ 5.- Who usually keep animals in bad conditions? 6.- What PETA and Uncaged want consumers to do? A B C D E F True True False False True False The British spend so much money on domestic animals because over half the homes in Britain have pets They play the role of parents and they strengthen their identity as couple They can develop a sense of responsibility and self-worth These experiments included warfare experiments and the testing of drugs, cosmetics and cleaning fluids Private companies and governments usually keep animals in bad conditions They want consumers to force consumers, private industry and governments to examine their consciences By Charo Díez