Shelters under strain as obese cats and dogs swell the ranks

 The number of “dangerously overweight” cats and dogs being admitted to animal shelters is on the rise, according to the RSPCA.

With about half of dogs in the UK classified as obese, the problem is leaving staff under strain as they attempt to slim down the animals before finding them new homes.

Experts blamed some owners’ sedentary lifestyles for causing their pet to pile on the pounds, while the portrayal of oversized pets as “cute” was described as equally unhelpful.

The RSPCA said in one extreme case a Staffordshire bull terrier, named Tara, was returned to a shelter after putting on 1st 5lb in the six months following her adoption, bringing her total weight to 4st 6lb.

Dr Michael Lazaris, a vet at RSPCA Putney Animal Hospital in London, said: “It has probably got worse over the past few years because perception of what a normal size pet looks like – it’s kind of warped recently.

“A lot of people think that it’s cute to have a fat cat or dog, you laugh about how podgy they are, but it’s quite painful for the pet, and it’s also frustrating because it makes our job a lot more difficult.”