People tend to say food is love, but an overabundance of love – we mean food, can kill you too. Buddy, a six-year-old Australian Shepherd from Winnipeg, Canada, was rescued by Hull’s Haven Border Collie Rescue when he toppled 180 lbs. A healthy dog his age should weight between 50 and 60 lbs, but this dog was about 120 lbs over his ideal weight.
With the help of rescuers and loving foster parents Angela Hand and Samantha Gagnon, the overweight dog started a strict diet that left no room for treats or human food. A few doggy friends helped introduced the chubby pet to daily exercise like rumps in the yard and daily walks. This combination helped get Buddy closer to his weight loss goal of 66 lbs.
The dog who was previously owned by an elderly couple weighed so much because he was shown too much love in the form of food. He was surrendered and that’s when rescuers stepped in to help Buddy regain his life and mobility.
“[When we first got Buddy,] he could barely walk four or five steps without his tongue turning purple,” Hand told CTV News.
“There were a lot of frequent stops,” said Gagnon. “He would make it like five feet from the deck and he would have to stop.”
Now, after dropping 100 lbs. and undergoing excess skin removal there is no stopping Buddy. He now fits through a doggy door he couldn’t use and is the first one in his pack to take off running.
Buddy weights less than 80 lbs and still has a few more pounds to lose, but he is ready for adoption and hopes to find a family who will keep him on a healthy plan and help him reach his goal.
If you’re interested in learning more about Buddy and maybe adopting him, contact Hull’s Haven Border Collie Rescue website.