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Over half of all households in the UK have at least one pet. In the 18th century the trade in pets was informal. You could buy caged birds at a market, but puppies and kittens were freely given away. The late 19th century saw a growth in specialist shops. Willson’s Pets in Goodge Street, London began to offer pedigree cats and dogs. Tropical fish were first available from the 1920s. Gerbils and hamsters appeared in the 1950s. The origin, health and safety of animals in pet shops is now an important issue and increasingly regulated.


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