Harrods shuts down Pet kingdom for expanding womenswear section

Premium department store Harrods has closed down its famous

pet department to make way for a new womenswear sector. A spokesperson for the department store stated: “The pet kingdom department will close to make way for further exciting planned developments in our womenswear offering.”

The pet department first opened its doors in 1917, where Harrods offered its customers the opportunity to purchase exotic animals such as tigers, alligators and lions. In 1976, the Endangered Species Act was passed, which caused the department store to change its pet offerings to more domesticated animals such as dogs, cats, hamsters and guinea pigs.

The closure of the pet department is part of Harrods 200 million pound renovation, which was implemented by the stores new owners the Qatari royal family fund Qatar Holding who purchased the department store in 2010 from Mohammed Al Fayed for 1.5 billion pounds.

A number of animal welfare associations have applauded the move from Harrods, arguing that animals should not be purchased from stores. “A pet shop is not an appropriate environment in which to sell puppies and kittens and our supporters have long expressed their concern about the UK's most famous department store selling pets,” said Dog's Trust chief executive Clarissa Baldwin to the Telegraph.