It’s the announcement we’ve waited all year for: which hardworking animal will win 2018’s Pet Slimmer of the Year award?
This time around, there are two joint winners.
The grand prize has gone to Borris, a Cavalier King Charles spaniel, and Sadie, a Labrador.
Both dogs have lost a quarter of their starting body weight through diet, exercise, and determination.
Borris started the year at 4st 6lb – four times as much as a healthy dog of his breed should weigh. He now weighs in at 3st 4lb.
His owner Annmarie Formoy admitted that the family had fed him too many treats in the past, and that his lovable nature meant even strangers would give him snacks.
The hungry boy’s appetite has got him into some scrapes. He once raided a cupboard full of chocolate Easter eggs, and another time chewed up Annmarie’s dad’s false teeth.
His weight loss was supervised by Louisa Carey, head nurse at Margate PDSA Pet Clinic.
‘Borris’s weight loss has been amazing,’ said Annmarie. ‘In the past his belly used to be touching the ground and he would refuse to walk.
‘Now he loves his walks – even when it’s raining, which he used to hate.
‘The best part was the first time that I saw Borris taking his first few running steps, it made me want to cry, I was so happy. He hadn’t run in years!
‘It has also helped show me just how bad his life must have been before with carrying around all that extra weight.’
Labrador Sadie has a similar story. She started the year at 6st 9lb, but has now slimmed down to a trim 4st 13lb.
She’d always had a massive appetite, and being given plenty of leftovers didn’t help with her size.
With the help of Kerry Griffith from the PDSA Pet Hospital in Basildon, Sadie’s diet was gently adjusted as her exercise levels were upped.
‘She’s a totally different dog now and is so much happier,’ said Sadie’s owner, George Chaplin. ‘Before I would have to pull on her lead to get her on a walk but now she waits for me by the door, and she’s got so much more energy.
‘She loves playing with a ball and toys too, which she wasn’t interested in before.
‘We go on two walks a day with a group of dog walkers. At the beginning of her diet she would waddle at the back of the group but now she bounds ahead and that’s great to see.’
Borris and Sadie each won the grand prize of a holiday to Sykes Cottages and a year’s free pet food.
In joint third place were two cats; Chester and Pepsi Cola, who each lost 17% of their body weight.
Well done to all the cats and dogs who’ve made healthy changes this year.
PDSA vet Olivia Anderson-Nathan, who helped to judge the competition, said: ‘It has been hugely rewarding to see our Pet Fit Club pets’ weight decrease over the last six months thanks to their new diet and fitness regimes.
‘Their success is testament to the hard work of their owners and our PDSA veterinary teams across the UK.
‘Pet obesity is a growing issue that affects millions of UK pets. Around 40% of dogs and cats in the UK are estimated to be overweight or obese.’