Podgy pets compete to be PDSA’s biggest loser!

The ‘weight’ is nearly over for some of the UK’s podgiest pets. After a search for the nation’s fattest four-legged friends, leading veterinary charity, PDSA, has chosen eight overweight dogs and cats to battle the bulge in this year’s PDSA Pet Fit Club competition.

In a bid to help the porky pets slim down, PDSA vets and nurses across the country have created specially tailored 100 day diet and fitness programmes for each of the eight overweight pets to follow, to help them shift their excess inches.

The owners of the eight chubby finalists, which include seven dogs and one cat, will battle it out over the next three months to overhaul their pet’s diet and exercise regime.

At the end of Pet Fit Club, the pet with the biggest percentage weight loss and that, in the opinion of the judges, has best followed their new regime, will be crowned ‘PDSA Pet Fit Club Champ’. The ‘Champ’ will win their owner a ‘pet-friendly’ holiday, courtesy of Coastal Cottages of Pembrokeshire.

PDSA’s current statistics show that around 30 per cent* of the nation’s dogs are overweight or obese – that’s around 1.95 million** fat dogs across the UK! This figure leapt dramatically between 2006 and 2007, when the charity saw a massive 9% increase.

In total, this year’s eight Pet Fit Club participants weigh a massive 191kg and need to lose more than 74kg, equivalent to David Beckham, to reach their ideal weight. The four-legged friends ‘em-barking’ on a mission to shed the pounds are:

Thirteen-year-old Yorkshire Terrier, Paddy, from Wolverhampton. Her current weight of 6kg makes her around 100% overweight. Paddy’s owner, Elizabeth Mansell, was spurred on to enter Pet Fit Club after her beloved dog was diagnosed with diabetes. Paddy used to be spoilt with treats such as toast, milk bones and leftovers on a daily basis.

You can sponsor Paddy's weight-loss at: www.justgiving.com/PDSAPetFitClubPaddy

Two-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Bo, from Gateshead. His current weight of 19.75kg makes him around 147% overweight. His favourite foods are bread and butter, toast and two or three pigs’ ears a day – on top of his fresh chicken and dog food! His waistline is also affecting his ability to exercise; he gets out of breath very easily and needs to sit down half way through his walk for a rest.

You can sponsor Bo's weight-loss at: www.justgiving.com/PDSAPetFitClubBo

Five-year-old Beagle, Toby, from Liverpool. His current weight of 22.8kg makes him around 63% overweight. Toby’s fondness of pigs’ ears and finishing the family’s leftovers hasn’t helped his expanding waistline. He likes his exercise, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult now he’s carrying so many extra pounds. His walks take twice as long as they used to and Lesley has to spend most of the time coaxing him along.

You can sponsor Toby’s weight-loss at: www.justgiving.com/PDSAPetFitClubToby

Five-year-old Labrador, Keano, from Plymouth. His current weight of 46kg makes him around 53% overweight. When Keano’s owner, Sarah James, and her family, re-homed him six months ago he weighed a whopping 56kg! His size was due to an unhealthy diet combined with not enough exercise. With Sarah’s help, Keano now enjoys going for daily walks and swimming whenever possible.

You can sponsor Keano’s weight-loss at: www.justgiving.com/PDSAPetFitClubKeano

Seven-year-old German Shepherd, Alfie, from Edinburgh. His current weight of 57.3kg makes him around 55% overweight. His owner, Helen Smith, admits she used to spoil her beloved pet. The former rescue dog enjoyed munching his way through biscuits, toast, cheese and the family’s leftovers – on top of his daily large tin of dog food.

You can sponsor Alfie’s weight-loss at: www.justgiving.com/PDSAPetFitClubAlfie

Five-year-old Cocker Spaniel Cross, Sam, from Cardiff. His current weight of 20kg makes him around 33% overweight. Sam’s owners Alka and Chetna Upadhyay adopted him as six-month-old puppy. They began spoiling him to ‘feed him up’ and now he knows he can get whatever he wants from his doting owners. He regularly begs for food and scraps - and knows Alka is most likely to give in.

You can sponsor Sam’s weight-loss at: www.justgiving.com/PDSAPetFitClubSam

Thirteen-year-old cat, Tinks, from Gillingham. His current weight of 9.8kg makes him around 96% overweight. When owner Bruce Brine, adopted 13-year-old Tinks six years ago he weighed over 11kg. As a stray he was being fed by about four different neighbours so he was never short of a meal or four! Thanks to a more sensible diet and no treats he’s managed to lose over a kilo. But he has heart problems and spends most of his time asleep now. Bruce his keen for him to lose his excess inches.

You can sponsor Tink’s weight-loss at: www.justgiving.com/PDSAPetFitClubTinks

Six-year-old Jack Russell, Roxy, from Croydon. Her current weight of 9.35kg, makes her around 87% overweight. Roxy was already overweight when she was re-homed in February. Her previous owners had caused her weight to soar by feeding an inappropriate diet and not giving her enough exercise. But her new owners have changed that. Before she started Pet Fit Club they started taking her on daily walks and cut the treats from her diet to help her shift her bulging belly once and for all.

You can sponsor Roxy’s weight-loss at: www.justgiving.com/PDSAPetFitClubRoxy