A mammoth 11-year old dog who weighs a whopping 12.7st and stands almost 4ft tall is on the lookout for his forever home.
Anatolian Shepherd 'Major' suffers from osteoarthritis due to his large size. He's so big, he needs a ramp to get into a car. Celine Di Crocco, the rehoming centre manager at Dogs Trust in Loughborough, said: "Major is the biggest dog we have ever cared for.
Celine added that despite his size, Major is a "gentle giant" who has won everyone's hearts at the centre. Di Crocco also highlighted Major's story serves as a reminder of the responsibilities that come with pet ownership, especially regarding weight management in dogs.
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She said: "While being a bigger dog might mean there's more of him to love, it's essential that owners understand the importance of supporting their dog to maintain a healthy weight to prevent some of the health issues that come as a result of obesity." Currently, Major is on a weight-loss programme which includes regular exercise and a carefully-managed diet. Despite his age, he loves playing chase and running around with other dogs.
The charity says he enjoys human company and would love to live in a home where he can be surrounded by people. Now, Major is seeking a permanent and loving home to call his own. Major can live with kids aged 12 and above, and might even get along with another calm dog after a successful introduction at the centre.
However, homes with cats or small animals might not be the best fit for him. But, he could do well in a home with other large animals like livestock or horses. Earlier it was reported having an overweight pet could cost owners £1,500 in vets' bills per visit, claims data has revealed. Common health problems caused by excessive weight include cruciate ligament injuries, urinary tract disease, diabetes, and arthritis.
Addressing cruciate ligament injuries can mean swallowing a whopping bill of £1,578.28, while urinary tract disease costs for cats are skyrocketing to a jaw-dropping £752.06. Data from pet insurer ManyPets shows, on average, pet owners are forking out £682.65 for a trip to the vets for diabetes, while arthritis costs are coming to £476.61.
And it comes as 51% of cat and dog owners admit they are already concerned about their pets’ weight, according to a separate poll of 2,000 pet owners. Nearly a fifth (18%) of those with a cat or dog could encounter these bills soon, as they believe their pet already is carrying more weight than it should – and 19% admit they are already shelling out more to tackle their pets’ fluctuating size.
The research was commissioned as part of the ManyPets “Why Weight?” report, and launch of its Obesity Learning Hub.
If you think you could give Major a forever home, visit www.dogstrust.org.uk/loughborough.
* This article was crafted with the help of an AI tool, which speeds up Daily Star's editorial research. An editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors to [email protected]
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