Fat Plymouth dog takes part in weight-loss challenge
Six-year-old black lab Keano weighed 56kg when he moved to Plymouth in August, but has already started shedding pounds since he started his new life.
His present owner, Sarah James, had watched him get fatter and fatter when he lived with her brother in Oxford, so eventually she persuaded him to let Keano come and live with her.
Mrs James, 30, said: "He was on the wrong food and never got any exercise.
"I've known him since he was a puppy and he's a lovely dog. It was just a shame to see him like that. He couldn't even roll on his back or run around."
But since moving in with the James family, Keano's life has been transformed, and Mrs James hopes he will win them all a dog-friendly holiday by winning the competition, organised by veterinary charity PDSA. Not only is Keano on a special 100-day diet of food prescribed by the PDSA's vets, he also now enjoys walks in the park and swimming in the Plym.
Keano enjoys playing with retriever Jesse, 2, the family's other dog, and children Milly,6, and Oliver, 2, and has already got his weight down to 44kg.
"He loves it," Mrs James said. "He's settled in really well in our little family. My daughter has completely taken him under her wing and all her little friends like to walk him back from school.
"I often find them sat on the sofa together – which he shouldn't be on!"
The contest was organised by the PDSA because of the charity's concern at the number of obese animals in Britain.
The pet with the biggest percentage weight loss and who has best followed the regime will be crowned PDSA Pet Fit Club champ. Sean Wensley, senior veterinary surgeon at the PDSA, said the charity was "extremely concerned" about the rising number of obese pets.
He said: "Many owners admit to spoiling and over feeding their pets.
"Alongside their daily portions of pet food, owners often show their affection by giving unhealthy human treats such as cheese, buttered toast and biscuits. They don't realise they are actually killing their pets with kindness.
"This, combined with a lack of, or not enough, exercise, is causing the growing number of obese pets, many of which face a lifetime of serious health problems because of their weight."
PDSA statistics show that around 30 per cent of the nation's dogs are overweight or obese, amounting to around 1.95 million fat dogs across the UK. The charity said this figure leapt by 9 per cent between 2006 and 2007.
The largest entrant is seven-year-old German Shepherd, Alfie, from Edinburgh, weighing in at 57.3kg.
WOOF-WATCHERS' DIET: Obese black labrador Keano, whose ideal shape is shown inset, with owner Sarah James who was concerned for his health
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