Dog and cat owners in Britain are feeding their pets too much high-calorie junk food — so much, in fact, that they're creating an "obesity crisis." Animal nonprofit group PDSA warned today that one in three dogs and one in four cats in Britain are extremely overweight because their owners are feeding them fatty scraps and too many treats.
Nearly 10 million pets are at risk of early death and various diseases if their owners don't stop. The PDSA said that pet owners are likely transferring their unhealthy eating habits to their animals, erroneously thinking that extra treats will make their pets happy. To combat the problem, PDSA launched its annual Pet Fit Club dieting contest to encourage owners to feed their animals a healthy amount of food. Last year, a Jack Russell terrier named Ruby was crowned the biggest loser when she shed 20 pounds off her weight.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appealSpeed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproarSpeed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain PrizeSpeed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 winsspeed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughterspeed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
