STUFFED ANIMALS Fit Club to help furry fatties
ONE is so fat he got stuck in his cat flap and another gorges on cheesecake between naps.
But Britain’s blobbiest pets are signing up to fat club – and are hoping to lose half their body weight as well as their greedy ways.
Vet charity PDSA is kicking off Pet Fit Club in a bid to tackle growing obesity among the nation’s pets.
PDSA vet Olivia Anderson-nathan said: “It is an epidemic that is seriously impacting the lives of millions of pets across the country.
“Carrying excess weight has serious health implications for our four-legged friends. It increases the risk of arthritis, diabetes and heart diseases.”
The fit club sees 13 porky pets go on a six-month diet and exercise plan. They include heavy hounds, massive moggies and one fat rat.
Flabby tabby Benji, from Greenock near Glasgow, weighs nearly two stone and can no longer squeeze through his cat flap. The lazy fiveyear-old needs to shed almost half his weight.
A rat from Neath in Wales called Mr T must also half his size.
And Pollyanna the pug from St Budeaux in Devon must end her love affair with cheese that has seen her double her weight.
A cat called Chester, who once stole and ate an entire cheesecake, is also in the cat fat club. Owner Lisa Gilmour, from Dunbar, near Edinburgh, said: “We realised everyone in the house was feeding him without knowing he’d been fed, so he was getting fed by four of us every day.
“We’ve even put a collar on him that says, ‘Do not feed me!’ for neighbours but that hasn’t worked. “He eats whatever he can find, including crisps left on the floor by
the kids.”
Crisps
Borris, a King Charles spaniel from Margate, Kent, ballooned to double his size after scoffing everything he could – including a set of false teeth. The slimming course for obese pets has so far helped 124 obese pets lose 450kg. The top dieter will take home a year’s supply of pet food, a hamper and a pet-friendly holiday. Vet Olivia said: “If owners are worried about their pet’s weight they should seek advice from a vet.” OUR vet Brian MY Faulkner, from Petplan, spaniel’s has 22 years of experience ears are and is a freelancer working all always dirty, over the country. Send your with brownish questions to Brian at: Petplan, crusty discharge. Great West House, Great I know they can West Road, Brentford, suffer from bad Middlesex, TW8 9DX ears as a breed – or via Petplan’s Facebook page facebook.com/ should I get his Petplanuk. ears checked? If you have a story about wildlife email us at pets@people.co.uk