英国宠物零售商 “ Pets at Home ”  的全年零售额首次突破 10 亿 英镑，这是由于宠物主人更舍得花钱把他们的宠物当作 “小主人” 般伺候，包括给狗狗购买用来玩乐的游泳池。

The dilemma of what to do with your dog while you’re at work has long been a major barrier for many who’d like to become an owner. But Pets at Home say the pandemic has changed all that as we spend more time in our homes.

当自己上班不在家时，该怎么照料狗狗，这个问题实在让人左右为难，这也是让很多想养狗的人下不了决心的主要障碍。不过 “Pets at Home” 指出，新冠病毒疫情改变了这一切，因为我们待在家里的时间更多了。

It’s seen the number of pets in the UK grow by eight percent in the last year, leading to a similar sized growth in its sales to 1.1 billion pounds.

过去一年，英国的宠物数目上升了8%，从而带动了这家宠物用品公司的销售相应增长，零售额达到11亿英镑。

We’re pampering them more too. The industry calls it ‘humanisation’. Paddling pools for pooches helped sales of puppy products grow by more than a quarter. But we were even keener for kitten kit, where the retailer saw spend increase by more than a third.

与此同时，我们也更加宠爱它们。宠物业界称之为 “人性化”，就是把动物当作人类般对待。给狗狗玩水的小游泳池热销，从而带动小狗用品销售增长了超过25%。但我们对购买猫咪用品甚至更热衷，在这上面的消费增加了超过三分之一。

Overall, profits dipped slightly to 88 million pounds as parts of the business, particularly grooming salons, were hit by Covid-related restrictions. But the company expects more growth to come as it cashes in on our frenzy for furry friends.

虽然宠物用品热销，但是整体而言，该公司的利润稍微下跌到8800万英镑，这是由于部分业务，尤其是宠物美容店，受到新冠疫情限制措施的打击。不过该公司预期，由于我们对这些毛茸茸的朋友们狂热不减，其生意会蒸蒸日上。

词汇表

dilemma 左右为难，进退维谷
barrier 障碍
pampering 宠爱，精心照顾
humanisation 人性化（把宠物当作人类对待）
pooches 狗狗
kitten 小猫
dipped 下降了，下跌了
grooming 打扮，给动物梳理毛发
frenzy 狂热

阅读理解：请在读完上文后，回答下列问题。

1. What has long been a big obstacle to people getting pets?

2. True or false? Products for dogs sold better than cats.

3. Was there an overall increase in profits?

4. What does the company think will happen in the future?

答案  

1. What has long been a big obstacle to people getting pets?
Worrying about what to do with pets while people are at work.

2. True or false? Products for dogs sold better than cats.
False. Kitten kits outsold puppy products.

3. Was there an overall increase in profits?
No. Overall, profits dipped slightly.

4. What does the company think will happen in the future?
There will be a continued growth in the area due to the trend.