хобби

Reading

I.Hobbies

1.What is a hobby?

1.1. Pre-reading focus.

What is a hobby? What hobbies do you know?

-Work in two or three groups

-Brainstorm your ideas

-Write down the definition of the word “hobby”

-Make out a list of hobbies

-Exchange your ideas

1.2.Pre-reading task.

Now read the text “Hobbies”.

-Learn about the origin of the word “hobby”

-Compare your group’s definition of the word “hobby’ with the definition given in the text

-Classify hobbies. Write down examples of hobbies. Compare your group’s list of hobbies with the classification given in the text

1.3.Reading.

Hobbies

What is a hobby?

In the 16th century a favorite toy for children of all ages was the hobbyhorse. In appearance a hobbyhorse could be as simple as a stick, or it could have a decorated wooden framework with an imitation horse's head attached. Whether simple or elaborate, children used them for the games of the time involving war and knighthood, much as children in the early part of the 20th century played cowboys and Indians. In time the popularity of the hobbyhorse declined, but the pleasure of doing something outside the routine activities of daily life had brought a new word into the language, the word hobby which is a shortened form of hobbyhorse.

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Hobbies today include a vast range of activities. The definition that best covers all these activities is probably constructive leisure-time activities.

Hobbies differ like tastes. If you have chosen a hobby according to your character and taste you are lucky because your life becomes more interesting.

Hobbies are divided into four large classes: doing things, making things, collecting things, and learning things.

The most popular of all hobby groups is doing things. It includes a wide variety of activities, everything from gardening to travelling and from chess to volleyball.

Sport has always been popular in our country. There are different sporting societies and clubs in Russia. Many of them take part in different international tournaments and are known all over the world. Our sportsmen take part in the Olympic Games and always win a lot of gold, silver and bronze medals.

Millions of people watch figure skating competitions, hockey and football matches, car races, tennis tournaments and other sports events. Certainly watching sports events and going in for sports are two different things. Now everybody knows that sport can be a profession and a business. But sport can be fun as well. Besides, it helps to stay in good shape, to keep fit and to be healthy. Doing sports is becoming more and more popular. Some people do it occasionally - swimming in summer, skiing or skating in winter - but many people go in for sports on a more regular basis. They try to find time to go to a swimming pool or a gym at least once a week for aerobics or yoga classes, body building or just work-out on a treadmill.

Gardening is one of the oldest of man's hobbies. It's a wellknown fact that the English are very fond of gardening and growing flowers, especially roses.

Millions of people all over the world spend their holidays travelling, they travel to enjoy picturesque places, or just for a change of scene. It's always interesting to discover new things, different ways of life, to meet different people, to try different food, to listen to different musical rhythms.

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Those who live in the country like to go to a big city and spend their time visiting museums and art galleries, looking at shop windows and dining at exotic restaurants. City-dwellers usually like a quiet holiday by the sea or in the mountains, with nothing to do but walk and bathe and laze in the sun.

Most travellers and holiday-makers take a camera with them and take pictures of everything that interests them - the sights of a city, old churches and castles, views of mountains, lakes, valleys, plains, waterfalls, forests; different kind of trees, flowers and plants, animals and birds.

Later, perhaps years later, they will be reminded by the photos of the happy time they have had.

People travel by train, by plane, by boat and by car. All means of travel have their advantages and disadvantages. And people choose one according to their plans and destinations.

If we are fond of travelling, we see and learn a lot of things that we can never see or learn at home, though we may read about them in books and newspapers, and see pictures of them on TV. The best way to study geography is to travel, and the best way to get to know and understand people is to meet them in their own homes.

Both grown-ups and children are fond of playing different computer games. This is a relatively new hobby but it's becoming more and more popular.

Making things includes drawing, painting, making sculpture, designing costumes, handicrafts. Two of the most famous hobby painters were President Eisenhower and Sir Winston Churchill. Some hobbyists write music or play musical instruments.

Almost everyone collects something at some period in his life: stamps, coins, matchboxes, books, records, postcards, toys, watches. Some collections have no real value. Others become so large and so valuable that they are housed in museums and galleries. Many worldfamous collections started in a small way with one or two items. People with a good deal of money often collect paintings, rare books and other art objects. Often such private collections are given to museums, libraries and public galleries so that others might take pleasure in seeing them.

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No matter what kind of hobby a person has, he always has the opportunity of learning from it. By reading about the things he is interested in, he is adding to what he knows. Learning things can be the most exciting aspect of a hobby.

1.4. Comprehension.

Answer the questions

1)What is the origin of the word “hobby”?

2)What is the definition of the word “hobby”?

3)What are 4 large classes? Hobbies are divided into?

4)What is the most poplar of all hobby groups?

5)What can sport be? (Can sport be fun as well?)

6)What is one of the oldest of man’s hobbies?

7)Why are people fond of travelling?

8)What is a relatively new hobby, which is becoming more and more popular?

9)What famous and well-known personalities were 2 of the most famous hobby painters?

10)What do people usually collect?

1.5.Discussion.

1)The text runs “If you have chosen a hobby according to your character and taste you are lucky because your life becomes more interesting”. Do you agree/disagree? Explain why.

2)The text runs “No matter what kind of hobby a person has, he always has the opportunity of learning from it”. Do you agree/disagree? Explain why.

3)Speak to your partner about you hobby. Keep in mind the following issues:

-Has your life become more interesting?

-Have you learnt from your hobby?

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2. Hobby: Collector

2.1. Pre-reading focus.

Do you know anything about collector?

What do people usually collect? What do you know?

-Work in 3 groups

-Brainstorm your ideas

-Make out a list of things people usually collect

2.2.Pre-reading task.

Now, read three texts about the collectors from Russia and the things they collect.

The 1st group – read the text “Vladimir Andreevich Pelepenko” The 2nd group – read the text “Alexander”

The 3rd group – read the text “Elena Lisina”

Add the things these Russians collect to you group’s list of things people usually collect.

2.3. Reading.

Vladimir Andreevich Pelepenko

A collector, General chief of UMC «Nedra», owner of «Cameo» shop, was born in Tumen in 1935. He has been living in Ekaterinburg from 1957. In 1962 he graduated from Urals Polytechnical University as an electrician engineer. His passion to natural stone and wish to gather a collection appeared at the age of 36. At present time unique collection includes more than 10 thousand exhibits. There are 1000 agates of Chukotka (the most complete gathering), minerals of excellent beauty from whole USSR and many regions of the world. The collection was first exhibited in Munich (1988) and later in Vienna, Dortmund, Hamburg, Denver (1989), London (1993) and Athens (1994).

Besides minerals the collection represents the products of stone made by Urals masters: Anatoly Ovchinnikov, Aleksei Antonov, Anatoly Zhukov, Jury Polovnikov, Viacheslav Obolensky. Their works of crystal and precious stones are of equal or better quality than

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masterpieces of Faberge firm. By the way, the collection includes about 100 works by Jury Bakhtin made of mammoth tusk and Eugene Onishenko.

Alexander

My name is Alexander. I am a Russian policeman. I have my own web-site, which is about me and my job in the investigative service, it has some pictures of Russian militia and of my native city Vladivostok and talks about many other interesting things.

I am often asked by my colleagues-collectors to send them Russian police and army insignia. At present time my financial situation does not allow me to give out these items as presents. The reason for that is an extremely high price of postal services in Russia and the expensiveness of the insignia itself. I have an access to acquiring patches, pins, orders and uniforms of Russian police and army at a low price. Besides, I have my own stock of these items. If you are interested in getting Russian police, army and KGB patches, pins, decorations and uniforms - I can help you with that.

Police collectors have a practice of exchanging patches from their departments, and it is like a sign of friendship. I support this tradition.

Elena Lisina

Elena Lisina is a designer, the member of the Union of Designers of Russia since 1988. Since 1989 she has been making unique, one-of-a-kind cloth dolls. She is a member of British Doll Artists Association (BDA). Elena Lisina has been collecting dolls since 1989 and exhibiting them. In 1997, on the Convention of the United Federation of Doll Clubs (UFDC) in Los-Angeles, Elena was awarded with "The Award of Excellence" for the "Exhibit of Dolls".

Since 1992 Elena Lisina's dolls collection has been exhibited in the Museum of Ural's Writers of Ekaterinburg, Elena also organizes doll exhibits in the other towns - Tumen, Rezh and etc. In the process of collaboration with the Museum of the Ural's Writers the unique form of a Doll museum was found - the combination of doll exhibit with literary themes that makes exhibits more educational and informative.

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The exhibits that lasted for 1 year each, had such themes: "Dolls in Russian & foreign Fairy Tales", "Russian Toys", "The Nutcracker and the Doll Kingdom", "Tales for Alyonushka" and etc. made the acquaintance not only with doll history, but with literature and tales as well.

Every year they organized the children's contests of handmade dolls & toys, the themes were: "My Favorite Literary Hero", "Doll as a Literary Character".

2.4.Post-reading discussion

•Now find a partner from each group. Work in groups of three. Exchange the ideas.

•What do people usually collect? What do people rarely collect? Discuss in the class

Make a table on the blackboard

COMMON COLLECTIONS UNCOMMON COLLECTIONS

•Do you collect anything? Are you a collector?

If your answer is a positive one, say what you collect.

If your answer is a negative one, say what you would like to collect or explain why you wouldn’t like to collect anything.

3.Strange Hobbies

3.1.Pre-reading focus.

Do you know anything about “strange hobbies”?

What are strange hobbies? What do you think?

-Work in 4 groups

-Brainstorm your ideas

-Make out a list of “strange hobbies”

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3.2. Pre-reading task

Now, read four texts about “strange hobbies” of Americans The 1st group – read the text “Duct Tape Artist”

The 2nd group – read the text “Junk Craftsman” The 3rd group – read the text “Skunk Enthusiast”

The 4th group – read the text “Clown”

Add strange hobbies these Americans have to your group’s list of “strange hobbies”.

3.3. Reading.

Duct Tape Artist

Melody Williams, 17

Greers Ferry, Arkansas

As you can see, Melody's hobby is duct tape art. Her creations include shoes, clothes, jewelry, cards and sculptures–even a model of Shakespeare's Globe Theater (which later became a home for her pet turtle, Shelley).

Most people aren't quite sure what to make of Melody's fascination with duct tape. "They laugh and mock me, "she says, "but they always come to me when they need an adhesive."

Laughter isn't the only "difficulty Melody encounters while pursuing her hobby, "Duct tape is very sticky," she says, "When I was making my skirt, I had a lot of problems with it sticking to itself in places it wasn't supposed to. Also, wearing duct tape is slightly uncomfortable. It's stiff and difficult to breathe very well"

Not that any of these drawbacks have diminished her love for the "handyman's friend." She's even written a song about it:

I have to say that my world is gray, not because of compromises made or morals in the shade,

but because of a sticky tape and the way it takes shape. There are so many uses and not many abuses

of this great sticky mess

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the component of my dress ...

Ode to duct tape, my best friend; Ode to duct tape,

may the gray never end.

Junk Craftsman

Zach Duke, 19

Palatka, Florida

"Have you ever dreamed of having one thing in your life that you could say you’ve made? Well, if so, this is the hobby to get into. All you need is an imagination, some old junk, and a creative outlook. This hobby is completely original: No one's junk is the same!"

Zach’s hobby includes making picture frames, clocks and little storage boxes out of odd items ("junk" items). He uses materials ranging from CD sleeves and license plates to an old snare drum. What surprises him about his creations isn't just how well they turn out—he can't believe that people want to pay for them.

"When I made the storage boxes," he says, "a few of my friends offered me money for them. Then when I made a clock, people offered to buy that, too. I was amazed that my small ideas to create something a little out-of-the-ordinary would receive so much attention".

Skunk Enthusiast

Brittany Miller, 21

Stillwater, Oklahoma

Collecting stuffed animals is quite a common hobby. But collecting skunks is something else. “I have never met another person who even likes skunks–much less collects them”, Brittany says.

There aren’t too many collectors with Brittany’s taste, besides the toys can be pretty tough to locate. "You can find plenty of miniature dogs, stuffed bunnies and model horses, but skunks aren't as common," she says. “It seems, though, that there are starting to be more and more. Since I buy one every time I see one, skunk producers are probably starting to think they’re a hot item!'' Which is fine with her, as long as skunk supply continues to exceed skunk demand. "If everyone collected skunks, my hobby wouldn't seem as special to me,”

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she says. "And besides, if everyone took up my hobby, there would be fewer skunks out there for me to collect!”

Clown

Tracy Earley, 16

Richmond, Virginia

“Have you ever met anybody who wears a red nose and floppy shoes for fun?” Tracy asks. “That’s me! I’m a clown!”

Tracy got into clowning as part of a church ministry. She's still a part of that group, and she's also started clowning around at kids’ birthday parties. She can tie animal balloons, ride a unicycle, paint faces, juggle and do magic tricks.

One of the toughest things about clowning, besides coming up with new routines all the time, is the expense – a pair of clown shoes alone costs over $200. But Tracy still loves her hobby. "I love making people laugh!" she says. "In the serious, fast-paced world we live in, clowning is a way to relax and have fun. Plus it becomes fun during boring moments at school. Sometimes in the middle of a really slow day, I gather up things to juggle from my friends' backpacks and liven up the class a bit!"

3.4.Post-reading discussion.

•Find a partner from each group. Work in groups of four. Exchange the ideas.

•What is the most unusual hobby of all hobbies discussed? What do you think?

•Do you want to have this hobby? Why? /Why not? Explain.

•Do you have a strange hobby?

Vote and make a table on the blackboard

If you have an unusual hobby, say what it is.

•Do you want to have your groupmates’ hobbies? Why? /Why not? Explain.

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4.Famous people’s collections

4.1.Pre-reading focus.

•Have you heard anything about famous and well-known people’s collections?

•Who are these collectors?

•What do these personalities collect?

4.2.Pre-reading task.

Now read two texts about famous and well-known American actors John Travolta and Robert De Niro.

Work in two groups

The 1st group – read the text about John Travolta The 2nd group – read the text about Robert De Niro

4.3. Reading.

The psychologists assure that collecting stimulates the interest to life and raises the feeling of self-esteem.

It is known about John Travolta that before he has become a collector, he was a normal, cheerful lad that did all with appetite: ate, rescued and loved his wife Kelly Preston. But once upon a time Travolta has bought a plane – a small storm trooper, which initiated the hasty disease. Travolta liked the new toy so much, that he has decided to collect the flying machines. The storm trooper was followed by the reactive "Golfstrim", then "Boing-707", all in all now he possesses 7 planes! Imagine how much space this collection occupies! And how much money it costs? Last year Travolta ordered to install in each of the airsheds the extremely sensitive cameras and the security system, the central board of which is set into the back of his bed.

Robert De Niro's collection is not so extravagant - it's just the collection of hats. But, first, there are plenty of them – approximately 1500.

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Secondly, they are thrown about in disturbance all over the house. De Niro says that it is done deliberately – it's easier for him to choose the cut, corresponding to his mood. De Niro's collection is "active" – now and then he puts on one of his hats and wears it. But the most interesting fact is that all of his wives and girlfriends assure that when De Niro puts on one of his hats, his image transforms thoroughly.

4.4.Post-reading discussion.

•Find a partner from the other group and exchange the information about these collectors.

•Have you known about John Travolta’s and Robert De Niro’s collections?

•Are these collections common or strange? Why or why not? Explain.

4.5.Project Time.

Using the Internet and personal web-sites of your favorite star or person make a report about “Famous and well-known people’s collections”. Represent your project in the class.

5. Prestige Hobbies

5.1.Pre-reading focus.

•Collections are known to become work sometimes. Do you know anything about the collector who established a museum, a gallery or a shop?

•Who were/are these collectors?

•What did they establish?

5.2.Pre-reading task.

Now read the text “Prestige Hobbies”, dealing with the experience of establishing so-called “Hobby City”. Do you like the idea? Why/ Why not? Explain.

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5.3. Reading.

Prestige Hobbies

In 1955 the grounds of an old 3-acre chicken ranch were being cleared. On this land the DeArmond family would build a growing city with the hobbyist in mind. Within a few years, 3 additional acres were added to the original location making room for more collector shops and expanded free parking. In 1994, an additional 4 acres were acquired, providing room for more parking and Adventure City, an amusement park built just for kids.

Imagine a 10 acre little city filled with thousands of interesting collectibles. The hobby and art shops in Hobby City are housed in uniquely constructed theme buildings. Bear collectors will surely enjoy visiting the old tree trunk towering into the sky almost 38 feet. Or visit the 1/2 scale replica of the White House, in which you can find some of the rarest dolls and toys.

5.4. Project Time.

Work in two groups. Create your own project. It may be a museum, a gallery, a shop, a club, a centre, etc. Represent your project in the class. Keep in mind the following issues:

-Why have you decided to organize it?

-What will be exhibited there?

Why is it worth visiting?

6.Reading as a Hobby

6.1.Pre-reading focus.

1)Do you read for pleasure?

Vote and fill in the table on the blackboard

2)What are the benefits of reading as a hobby? Brainstorm your ideas in 2-3 groups. Write them down.

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6.2. Pre-reading task.

Read the essay “Reading for pleasure” written by Bala Yahaya in groups. (Each paragraph is of each student). Find benefits of reading

-While reading the essay compare your group’s list of the benefits with those given by Bala Yahaya.

-After reading the essay add the benefits of reading given in the essay to yours.

6.3.Reading.

Reading for pleasure

Bala Yahaya

Human beings have various ways of relaxation. Some prefer spending their free time listening to music, while some prefer going out to the beach to savour the good provisions of nature; to some others, the best way to enjoy one's free time is to be glued to the TV set watching soap operas, home videos, musicals, etc. One very good way of enjoying one's free time is through reading. Unfortunately, the number of people taking advantage of this wonderful hobby is fast declining. Most people today see reading as a burdensome endeavour that should only be embarked upon when 'chasing' degrees, diplomas, or certificates. To this group of people, reading outside the classroom is a way of stressing oneself. According to the Californian Department of Education, "Professional educators and the public at large have long known that reading is an enabling skill that traverses academic disciplines and translates into meaningful personal, social, and economic outcomes for individuals."

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Because of the society's growing apathy for reading, the number of 'non-academic' visitors to our libraries has, over the years, drastically reduced. This dearth of reading culture has contributed a lot to our collective stagnation as a people. We tend to see things from very myopic, sentimental and even outrightly uncivilised points of view. This, perhaps, explains why we no longer appreciate the good virtue of putting ourselves last and others first when such need arises. It further explains why our national aspiration of establishing a strong, virile, independent nation continues to elude us. At the local level, inherited values of good neighbourliness, courage, honesty, and industry are grossly discarded and in their place selfishness, laziness, insincerity, and sycophancy become the order of the day. This is because it is an established fact that reading of high quality materials helps in moulding, in a positive way, the character trait of children and to some extent, redirecting that of adults.

Lyon and Chhabra (1996) opine that, "It is common knowledge that reading is the fulcrum of academics, the pivotal ability that stabilizes and leverages children's opportunities to learn and to become reflective, independent learners." A child who grows up in an environment where the reading culture is alive and kicking, grows up to, in majority of cases, become a fully enlightened, broadminded, socially balanced, culturally aware, and philosophically outstanding individual. Such individuals are, of course, the assets any country needs to attain greatness.

Furthermore, reading is a good way of chasing away boredom. This is because engaging oneself in reading of a well-written book, piece, biography, play, poem, etc., could effectively divorce him from any unpleasant realities of life that may be bedeviling him at any point in time. Any person who makes reading a hobby would readily attest to the fact that when he lays his hands on an interesting story, he finds himself so carried away that he doesn't even remember that it is time for lunch! Now if reading could divorce one from a reality like hunger, the issue of boredom is certainly a minimal one.

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Moreover, reading of relevant materials avails us the opportunity to fairly assess our condition, make comparisons, and come out seeing our problems as very minor and thanking God in the process. For example, a nagging wife who reads Isidore Okphe who's novel, "The Victims", would transform to a good housewife and thank God for not letting her into the shoes of Nwabunor, Ogugua, and all other such characters and their plights that combine to make the story a tragic one. In the same vein, reading George Orwell's "Animal Farm" could also make a society to tread softly, the path of instigated rebellion against constituted authorities because their supposed messiahs may turn out to be their evil predators.

Reading also has the potential of bringing oat the best in us by making us to be creative. Readers have the natural tendency of seeing their favorite writers as role models thus wanting to become like them. This ignites the urge in the individual to write in the characteristic style of his own role model. Writing is said to be one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration. Thus an individual gets inspired by the works of others and makes all the sacrifices to produce a unique work of his own. This makes the society become an ocean of valuable ideas.

Another benefit of reading as a hobby is that, far more than other pastimes, it develops one's intellectual capacity and understanding of hitherto, strange things. Reading a good travelogue, for example, gives one an insight into the lifestyle of people in other countries, continents and even creatures in other planets. The knowledge of their culture, religion and climatic conditions makes one to appreciate why they dress in a particular way, why they eat a particular kind of food, why they engage in a particular kind of trade among many other 'whys'. Thus unlike, the unenlightened individual, he does not bring himself to blindly copy the life style of others. Consequently, he becomes proud of his own culture and becomes ready to claim his nationality with all its peculiarities; and without any unjustifiable negative feeling of inferiority. It also enables one to get acquainted with the meanings and usage of several words and phrases. This aids the individual's

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communication skills in his business and social dealings with other members of the society.)

Having considered some of the benefits accruable to an individual who adopts reading as a pastime, it will be appropriate to, at this juncture, examine some of the ways through which the reading culture can be revived among our people. In the first place, it is said that 'charity begins at home', thus it is the humble opinion of this writer that the inculcation of reading culture in our people should start from the home.

This is because, any hobby good or bad adopted from childhood automatically becomes part and parcel of the individual and will be very difficult to discard. Therefore while it is recommended that parents should try and arouse the interest of their children towards reading, it is also necessary to add that they should, at the same time, regulate the kinds of materials accessible to them. Secondly, government should also set in motion, a pragmatic programme for the resuscitation of the reading culture in our society. This could be done through resuscitation of our library system, creation of reading centres in our various relaxation spots, setting up of internet cafes where people can have access to the net at affordable rates, subsidizing reading materials, recognition and encouragement of writers through sponsorship of writing competitions, publication of materials, and funding of literary activities.

Many people allow themselves to ditch this great pastime relying on the not-so-plausible excuse of "I don't have time for reading" and thus allow even incisive and analytic newspaper features to pass them. Thus, at the individual level, we should make conscious effort to "create time for reading", knowing fully well that it is not only a good way of keeping ourselves abreast of happenings around us and beyond, but also an effective means of spending our free time. A way of using one stone to kill two birds, if you like.

6.4. Post-reading discussion.

Now, exchange your ideas. Find a partner from another group What group had found more benefits of reading?

Do the students of each group adopt reading as a pastime?

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6.5.Discussion.

•Human beings have various ways of relaxation. Some prefer spending their free time listening to music while others prefer going out to the beach to savour the good provisions of nature; for some others the best way to enjoy one’s free time is to be glued to the TV set watching soap operas, homevideos, musicals, etc. One very good way of enjoying one’s free time is through reading. “Tastes differ”.

•What is your hobby?

•The text runs: “Any hobby good or bad adopted from childhood automatically becomes part and parcel of the individual and will be very difficult to discard”.

Do you agree/disagree? Explain.

If you agree, say, what parents should do to try and arouse the interest of their children towards reading/ towards other hobbies?

•The text runs “Many people allow themselves to ditch this great pastime relying on the not-so-plausible excuse of "I don't have time for reading (a hobby)"”

Is it an excuse? What do you think? Explain, why?

If you think, that it is not an excuse, say, what people should do to manage their time?

7. Animal Lovers

7.1.Pre-reading focus.

1)Do you think that keeping pets is a good idea?

2)What pets are generally kept in town? In the country?

3)What are unusual (exotic) pets to keep? What is the most unusual pet you have heard of?

4)What problems do people face if they keep pets?

5)Why do people keep pets nowadays?

6)Have you ever had a pet? What was it?

7)Are you keeping a pet now? What is it and what is it like?

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That is interesting!

It is possible to use the personal pronouns he/she when talking about pets. You can use

them when you treat your pet as a member of your family. Here are some examples:

I have got a pet. She is a cat. Her name is Fluffy. I’ve got a dog. His name is Snoopy.

8)It is not a secret that British people love pets to bits and would do anything to make their life enjoyable. But just how far does this love go? Do you know the answer?

7.2.Pre-reading task.

Now, read the text “Just how much do they love their pets?” While reading fill in the vocabulary table. Then compare you

tables in the class.

to love smb. to bits

Key vocabulary

7.3. Reading.

A Nation of Animal Lovers:

Do you have a pet? It is no secret that British people love their pets to bits and would do anything to make their life enjoyable. But just how far does this love go? The answer is QUITE far.

As you walk anywhere in Britain, you are greeted by hundreds of literally smiling cat faces, which makes you think that the Cheshire cat in Alice in Wonderland might not have been a mere product of Lewis Carroll's imagination. Well, British cats have every reason to

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smile. British pet owners spend around 3.5 billion pounds a year on pet care and products. In the last five years, the amount spent on pet food, toys and vet bills has risen by almost 25%.

There are some pet owners who spend thousands of pounds on medical care to keep their sick pets alive. Pets can even have their teeth cleaned and special pet contact lenses prescribed. Recently, it has become legal to use organ transplants to treat serious pet illnesses, such as kidney failure.

However, it has not yet been decided on the source of donor organs. In America, organ transplants for pets have been allowed for a long time. Normally, owners of pets receiving the organs are expected to adopt the donor animal, usually a stray animal, and care for both.

There are a number of pet accessories available to pets and their owners. Special flashing collars for walking at night, water-resistant dog jackets, car ramps for old or overweight dogs - you name it, they have got it! There are also special accessories designed to keep your pet fit, such as treadmills for dogs to exercise indoors or orthopaedic beds for dogs that suffer from a bad back. There is even a special pet hotel in Newcastle upon Tyne that offers cats and dogs an opportunity to exercise in the indoor gym, relax in the Jacuzzi or watch videos of their owners on personal TV and video sets.

Unfortunately, in spite of Britain's reputation as pet lovers, animal abuse and cruelty still happen. There are a number of organisations that protect animals in Britain, but the most important is the RSPCA – the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The word 'Royal' indicates that the Society is under special patronage of the Queen. Compare this to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and you will get a quick taste of how serious the British are about animal welfare.

Although all pets are entitled to love and devotion from their owners, there are some pets that deserve good treatment and care more than others. These are assistance dogs. Endal, an assistance dog owned by a Gulf-war veteran Allen Parton, who is confined to a wheel-chair after suffering a serious head injury, has even won a number of awards recognising the dog's achievements in helping people. Endal can use cashpoint machines, buy bus tickets and do the shopping.

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