Pepsi the dog…huge loser!

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Pepsi, a Jack Russel from Dunedin was named “New Zealand’s Pet Slimmer of the Year” after losing half her weight in just over a year.

Classed as being terminally obese a year ago, Pepsi lost over 6kg after her owners, Arthur and Colleen Linnell, rescued her from the SPCA 15 months ago.

Ms Linnell said “It’s that old saying about a thin dog in there trying to get out. She certainly looked like she wanted us to take her and look after her.”

After strict instructions from the vet that Pepsi had to seriously lose weight she was put on a strict diet and exercise regime and since then has been a changed girl. “The moment she sees somebody with a lead in their hand she knows she is going somewhere and she’ll beat us to the door,” said Mr Linnell.

About a quarter of dogs are overweight and this puts them at risk of diabetes, heart and breathing problems.

“The animals often have their owners very well trained,” says Steph Saunders at Dunedin SPCA. “But in actual fact to overfeed your dog’s not being kind and it will suffer. You’ll probably shorten its life and make it more difficult.”

Pepsi now eats just a single pottle of dog food a day. Althouh her owners admit she would eat more if she could they say she is happy with the new regime.

This story is from the 3 News website.