CANINE weight-watcher Westley from Ross-on-Wye was in with a fighting chance of becoming Hills Pet Slimmer of the Year when he took on ten West finalists in Swindon recently.
But in spite of losing more than 8kg in six months poor old Westley didn't top the canine section of the competition, organised by Hill Pet Nutrition Ltd.
His proud owner, Mrs Joyce Meaton, said she was "very pleased" with the way Westley undertook the programme and the good it has done him.
"We did it for his health more than anything. Now he is a much happier, fitter dog."
Mrs Meaton said Westley had always been a big dog but had got to the stage where he could no longer walk anywhere – she had to take his food to him.
Westley promptly went to the vet who organised a diet and exercise plan.
The competition was organised to reward heavy hounds and flabby felines that lose weight. Its organisers say a staggering 50 per cent of cats and dogs in the UK are considered obese – a total of around 7 million animals.
However, Westley's efforts to get into the finals have won him two months' supply of diet petfood. If you have a portly pet you would like to enter in the 2000 Hill's Pet Slimmer of the Year competition, contact your local vet for further details or ring 0800 282438.