Worthing's cats and dogs are piling on the pounds

Obese animals are becoming a problem in Worthing as an animal rescue centre experiences an increase in overweight pets coming into their care.

“This time of year many of us have made New Years resolutions regarding our own health and we would urge pet owners to consider their animals wellbeing too,” said Senior animal rescue officer Billy Elliott.

Recently, Worthing and District Animal Rescue Service, in Findon Road, welcomed two new animals in need of a home – a cat named ‘Chunky’ Charlie and a dog named ‘Beefy’ Bailey.

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“Charlie came into our care shortly before Christmas. Unfortunately he was bullying his sister and his previous owner felt it unfair to keep them together any longer. We suspect he may have been helping himself to her share of the food,” he said.

The average cat weighs in at around six kilos, but Charlie weighed a shocking 10 kilos.

Bailey is a beagle who also arrived after the Christmas period.

Mr Elliott said: “His owner had a long standing leg issue which eventually required surgery. Family members had rallied and did their best to support Bailey while his owner was incapacitated but over time with lack of exercise and stimulation he piled on the pounds.”

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The average Beagle weighs in at around 18 kilos, but Bailey weighed in at more than 38 kilos.

The Rescue centre warns that owners could be ‘inadvertently loving their pets to death’.

He said: “Obesity is likely to lead to conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. So clearly by allowing our pets to remain over weight, we could be taking years off their life expectancy.”

All local vets have health clubs with dieticians in their surgeries and are always available for help and advise.

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Charlie has since been on a strict low calorie diet and now weighs in at eight kilos. He requires dental work but because of his obesity the risk from anaesthetic is too great, and therefore he will have to wait until he reaches a more normal size.

Bailey has been placed on a strict metabolic diet and his exercise has been limited to sessions of ten minutes, three times a day. It is expected to take around eight months before Bailey will reach his optimum weight.

Both cat and dog are just two of the animals available for re-homing. For details visit www.wadars.co.uk

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