UK's fattest pets picked for diet contest
These are some of the fattest cats and dogs in the UK. Each has been selected by animal charity PDSA to take part their animal fat-fighting slimming competition Pet Fit Club where they will all be put on custom diets and exercise regimes.
Some are rescue animals which have been re-homed by the charity, others simply have owners who have allowed them one too many treats.
Socrates (left) has been with owner Bill Duncan from Newcastle, since he was a kitten, but now aged five he weighs 10.1kg - that's a massive 124% overweight.
Bill says the podgy cat will do anything for favourite cheese and onion crisps… except maybe diet.
(above left) Owner, Penny Faulkner (26), re-homed overweight Amber in March 2009. Since then Penny has tried everything she can to help the porky puss - who tips the scales at 7.3kg (making her 62% overweight) - lose weight. (above right) Ten-year-old Smoky has been with June Cartwright from Wolverhampton (77) since he was a kitten. The porky puss, who avoids exercise whenever possible, weighs in at an enormous 9.3kg making him 86% overweight. His target weight is 5kg.
(above) Barbara Walton (62) from London has owned Sandy the Labrador (12) since he was an eight-week-old puppy. Before Pet Fit Club the pampered pooch enjoyed a diet of tinned meat in jelly, chocolate chip cookies and scraps from his owners’ plates. He currently tips the scales at a massive 41.8kg (making him 39% overweight) and needs to lose over 11kg to reach his target of 30kg.
(above left) Owner Kelly Edwards (29) from Harold Hill is determined to help Scamp the Jack Russell Terrier cross (10) get in shape. He started gaining weight after an operation last year and Kelly has been unable to help him slim. She’s hoping to get the porky pooch down from 18.3kg (making him 53% overweight) to a healthier 12kg.(above right) Owner Margaret Dunbavin (20) re-homed Sasha the Staffordshire Bull terrier (4) from Manchester Dogs Home in 2007. Her porky pooch has always had a sweet tooth: ice cream, chocolate and biscuits being her favourite treats, but Margaret was shocked to find Sasha was 10kg overweight! The sugar-loving Staffie needs to slim down from 25kg to around 17kg.
(above) Re-homed stray cat Chumlie Bear was taken in by Tracey O’Sullivan from Ilford in 2007. Her once-skinny kitty soon started putting on weight with his penchant for enormous portions, including his favourite treat - chips stolen from her son’s plate. Chumlie currently weights 7.9kg (making him 76% overweight) and eventually needs to slim down to 4.5kg.
(above left) Barbara Walton (62) from London has owned Sandy the Labrador (12) since he was an eight-week-old puppy. Before Pet Fit Club the pampered pooch enjoyed a diet of tinned meat in jelly, chocolate chip cookies and scraps from his owners’ plates. He currently tips the scales at a massive 41.8kg (making him 39% overweight) and needs to lose over 11kg to reach his target of 30kg.(above right) Yvonne Watts (57) from Sholing knew Bessie Border Collie/Labrador Cross (8), needed to go on a diet when friends started to make uncomplimentary remarks about their beloved pooch’s waistline. Yvonne has already cut out naughty treats, including her favourite biscuits and cookies. She is hoping Bessie can slim down from 27.6kg (which makes her 38% overweight) to her eventual target weight of 20kg.
Supporters can follow the finalists' progress and can even sponsor their weight-loss efforts by visiting http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/PDSAPetFitClub
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