Has anyone seen the news about the owners of a dog who were prosectued for the dog who was overweight?  What do you think?   They say the dog was happy being fat - how would they know?  Maybe they should start prosecuting parents of fat children?

Just seen something on BBC news.......
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cambridgeshire/6256349.stm
Just going to read it now.
Lea :)

They were found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering (too darned right too) but they're being given the dog back, when one of the owners made a statement outside the court that they didn't think they'd done anything wrong, and they "loved him to bits"? The poor dog, who's still twice the weight he should be, is going to get just as bad again. The film of the poor thing hobbling a few steps before collapsing was pitiful. And the owners couldn't see anything wrong with that? :rolleyes:

Yeah I saw it on the news just a few minutes ago. The poor dog was an incredible size, I've never seen any dog as fat as that. It's lost 3st but it's still huge but looking better than it did at 11st. I didn't catch how old he is though, not that that is any excuse for being so massive.

Poor Rusty.

Dawn R.

Think he was 11.

Well same happens with kids, you see them waddling around stuffing themselves and the parent dont see anything wrong with that, they should be prosecuted too, maybe that would sort out the obesity problem in the UK - theres no excuse!

He's only 9. Should be his prime.

I'm glad the law recognised that they had caused the dog to suffer but I don't think they should have been allowed to have the dog back, especially as they don't accept that they did anything wrong :( Poor dog :(

I agree with JG, it was pitiful. As much as I hate any form of cruelty I am normally quite strong when hearing/seeing things like that and I burst into tears the minute I saw the poor lad. So so so sad

I don't they should have got the dog back either - there needs to be a clear message that overfeeding is as cruel as starving IMO.

I admit to having a grossly overweight dachsie - but not for the want of trying to get her weight down.  The boys are fine but Tara has been under the vet's weight clinic for over 2 years now.  I think all those owners needed was to demonstrate was that they were addressing the issue and severely overweight needs professional help and then the case wouldn't have come to court - it was the lack of action that was the cruelty part in my mind.  Most vets run these clinics for free so there really is no excuse.  And I feel that even if the dog has real problems like Tara at least it is being controlled to some degree.

Louise

I was absolutely disgusted and so sad about Rusty.

I hold my hands up that I let H get overweight by a few kgs but now he's back to what he should be with hard work and determination that my lab would never be classed as a fat lab together with my love for him to keep him happy and healthy....but that story just breaks my heart.  That poor poor dog.  Nothing that the owners get coming to them will be enough in my eyes.  It's just disgusting.

It makes me so sad to see dogs like this and unfortunately there are many people out there that think they are not doing anything wrong :(

I don't think they should have been allowed to have the dog back :(

It's a really sad story, the dog should have only been returned if the couple showed remorse and had made efforts to re-educate themselves and continue with the dog who still needs to lose yet more weight. 

I recently took on a Chihuahua who is slightly smaller than my 1st Chihuahua who weighs in at 2.35kg.  The new dog weighs a staggering 4.0kg!  We're exercising her reguarly and she's gone onto Arden Grange light food 3 smal meals per day to keep her metabolism ticking over - in a few short weeks she's dropped to 3.65kg.  We have a house over 3 floors and although none of the dogs come up to the top floor (exception of whelping) this little girl was so barrel like that to start with her tummy and short legs almost prevented her from getting up the stairs.  She can get about easier now and the stairs are a great form of exercise for her as she runs up and down with the others now.

The people we got her from really loved her, but they spoilt her with lots of greek cheese and lavish home cooked food and titbits, and then when a new baby came along they had no time to walk her, and to alleviate guilt, gave her more treats and rewards.  To start with I felt embarrassed taking her out to walk her, because I thought people would think I was a terrible owner who had overfed her dog!  But she needed the exercise so bugger what everyone thought and we just got on with it.

Now she's with us I feel a sense of reward just to see her able to clean herself after she's been to the loo etc now, as before she couldn't bend round to reach her genitals as her tummy was so fat.  I am in touch with the people who had her before and they have asked if they can visit her at some point in the future, so I envisage they will see a huge difference when they eventually do visit. 

I aim to get her slowly back to a more manageable weight for the sake of her heart/joints/diabetes risk.  She's still easily tired, but is building up stamina slowly.

My male show dog though is the other extreme - like a skeleton as 2 of my girls came into season back to back.  I'd just fattened him up from being poorly at Xmas too. :(

Hi Chi-Chi

I haven't tried Arden Grange light for my girl.  Will see if she has lost any weight this month and if not will give it a go.

Louise

Have sent you a PM :)