The Canadian Press
WINNIPEG—At the beginning of 2015, “Buddy” was so morbidly obese that he was unable to walk.
But with the help of friends who helped him cut back on the kibble, he has managed to lose more than 100 pounds this year.
Now the six-year-old Australian Shepherd is fit and healthy, and looking for a new home through Hull’s Haven Border Collie Rescue in Winnipeg.
Officials with the rescue group say Buddy used to belong to an elderly couple who showed him their love through giving him food—way too much food.
When they no longer could care for him, the couple surrendered him to the rescue group.
Fearing he could have a heart attack, volunteers with Hull’s Haven helped Buddy work his way from 180 pounds down to 71.
“I just couldn’t believe the size of him,” said Angela Hand, one of Buddy’s foster parents and a vet technician at Stonewall Veterinary Clinic.
“I had seen pictures and video but it wasn’t the same.
“He could barely walk four or five steps without his tongue turning purple,” she noted.
Buddy was put on a diet of specialty food and had his treats restricted to things such as cucumbers and tomatoes.
When he finally was able to start walking, things moved slowly.
But each week, he diligently would weigh in at the vet—making progress in three-pound increments.
A few months later, Buddy was running with other dogs.
All these milestones were shared on the Facebook page, “Buddy’s 180 Story: A New Leash on Life,” where supporters from across North America cheered him on.
He’s now close to his goal weight of 65 pounds and officially is up for adoption.
“He’s a very cuddly dog. He likes car rides. He likes other dogs,” said Hand.
“He just doesn’t like cats.”
While Buddy’s case is extreme, pet obesity is not unusual.
“In the vet clinic, I see a lot of overweight dogs,” noted Hand.
“A lot of times, people just don’t know what they’re feeding, how much they’re actually feeding their dog, and how much exercise they need,” she said.
