Britain's FATTEST pets join slimming camp
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A GARGANTUAN group of Britain's fattest pets have waddled their way towards an annual pet slimming competition.
Overweight dogs, cats and even rabbits, collectively carrying around 30 stone in weight – or the equivalent of 200 bags of sugar or three middleweight boxers – are set to take part in the waistline shrinking scheme.
The line-up of 13 dogs, five cats and three rabbits will all be hoping to shed the pounds in the six-month diet and exercise programme as part of the Pet Fit Club by veterinary charity the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA).
The chubby collection of creatures includes hefty hound Mizzy, a Bullmastiff, and flabby feline, Ulric - the two biggest-ever finalists in the competition which has been running for almost 10 years.Mizzy's owner Cheryl Pedley said she did not know her pet was morbidly obese.
She said: “I simply didn’t realise how overweight she was, I thought her breed was supposed to be big so I just thought it was her natural size.
"She used to love long walks so I didn’t think anything of giving her big helpings, but after the vet explained the problems it was causing her I want to do everything I can to help her.”
Ulric the Norwegian Forest cat has such a big appetite that he regularly steals food from his companion and sister Ulla, who weighs less than half his bodyweight.
Ulric’s owner Jan Mitchell said she has resorted to feeding Ulla on a worktop to prevent Ulric getting his paws on it.
She said: “Ulric is not very energetic and is too laid back for his own good. He will eat his own food and then his sister’s, then waddles around. I have to feed Ulla on the worktop as he can’t jump up on there - that’s the only place she can eat in peace.”
Incredibly, the combined weight of Mizzy and Ulric is 13 stone 4lbs (about 84kg).
Tom cat Ulric, from Dorset, weighs in at two stone (12.65kg) - 111 per cent over his ideal weight, and Mizzy, from Derby, tips the scales at 11 stone 4lbs (72kg), making her over double her recommended weight.
Other pets battling the bulge include sweet-and-sour-chicken-loving Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Beetlejuice, (seven stone/44kg and 48 per cent overweight), Labrador Tia, from Birmingham, who weighs over nine stone (58.2kg - 94 per cent overweight), and ice-cream-loving tubby tom cat Prince, who weighs over a stone.
The fat fighters are all competing for the title of PDSA Pet Fit Club slimmer of the year, and they all fall into the category of obese or morbidly obese.
A PDSA study shows that more than 18 million pets across the UK are eating too much, putting them at risk of an early grave.
Being overweight and not getting enough exercise puts the pets at risk of preventable conditions such as arthritis, diabetes and heart disease.
Elaine Pendlebury, PDSA senior veterinary surgeon, said: "Obesity is one of the biggest welfare issues affecting pets in the UK today - and it is entirely preventable.
"Sadly, it also means daily misery for millions of pets who are feeling the strain from carrying too much weight.
"The owners of the pets in this year's competition are taking the vital first step towards a healthy new future for their animals.
"This helps reduce the likelihood of an early grave due to obesity and its related health issues. The good news is that it's never too late to make a positive change to improve a pet's quality of life."