Deadly Shoes

[Shapecity]

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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>LONDON (AFP) - To their high society owners, a pair of haute couture shoes can be a precious thing. </p>

But to guard a 62,000 pound (120,000 dollar) pair of ruby- sapphire- and diamond-encrusted Rene Caovilla sandals at their <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed #0066cc; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial">London</span> launch, retailer <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed #0066cc; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial">Harrods</span> went to extreme lengths: bringing in a live Egyptian cobra to patrol the shoe counter.</p>

Whether hiring a poisonous snake is, strictly speaking, the most effective means of guarding precious footwear might be a moot point with security experts.</p>

But it makes for a pretty effective photo opportunity.</p>

A spokeswoman for Harrods admitted that the cobra had been hired strictly for Monday&Acirc;’s launch of the shoe collection.</p>

"The snake has now been returned to its owner," she said.</p>

So no need to fear snake bites at the shoe counter, then.</p>

"Not unless you&Acirc;’re a burglar," the spokeswoman said.</div></p>

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/lifestylebritainfashionharrodssnakeoffbeat</p>

Pretty wild!</p>