Animals

People in Britain and Ireland are very fond of animals. Most families have got a pet. Some people take their pets to shows. There are big international shows, like ´Crufts´in London. You can see thousands of dog there. There are also lots of local shows. Adults and children take their dogs, cats, birds and hamsters to these shows. There are prizes for the best animals.
Horse riding is popular. Children go to riding schools, where they learn how to ride and how to look after horses. There are lots of horse shows with prizes for riding, jumping and ofter events.
There are lots of programmes about animals on television. There are programmes about wild animals from all over the world and about pets, too. One of the most popular programmes is ´Animal Hospital´. A lot of children watch it.
There are lots of zoos in Britain, but you can also see animals in safari parks. In these parks the animals aren´t in cages. They live in fields and forests. People drive round the park in their cars to watch the animals. You mustn´t get out of your car!