Gables Farm Dogs and Cats Home have taken in yet another morbidly obese collie in desperate need of their help. Big Bopper the Whopper is tipping the scales at a staggering 49.6kg! He should weigh around 27kg so is nearly twice the weight he should be. He is suffering from an ear infection and is in need of dental treatment. He is also beginning to develop cataracts, has callous formation on his elbows from constantly lying down, as he finds walking painful and very uncomfortable due to his advanced years and sheer size. At this extreme weight he is at a very high risk of developing diabetes and will have to have his blood taken regularly to monitor his sugar levels.

Big Bopper the Whopper simply finds breathing and standing very difficult and is currently so large that he cannot fit comfortably in the kennels so he is being cared for at Deputy Manager Ruth Rickards home. He needs to get his weight down to around 27kg so he can enjoy his retirement years in comfort. This will be achieved by the specialist veterinary diet he has been put on with a programme of gentle exercise done little and often. It is estimated that it will cost the Home over £800 for the ongoing treatment and life time aftercare he needs.

Deputy Manager Ruth Rickard said: Just when I thought Hattie the Fattie was the fattest dog we had seen here at Gables in comes Bopper who makes her look tiny! He weighs much more than Hattie did and is a lot older so he will need our help to achieve what Hattie has so he can start to feel better and more mobile. It makes us so proud to see the transformation and true difference we can make to these animals lives, which we couldnt do without the support of our fantastic local community. As we are a true non-euthanasia charity he will be safe in our care until he is ready to look for a new loving home.