FAST FORWARD!

October 2011

It's time to fast forward and catch up with all my fans!  Time flies when you are having fun and working hard!

I am doing DOG GONE GREAT!

• I am making it back up the hill from the yard every evening to get my dinner and go to bed without much help and assistance from Jewel or Mercy.  I'm being to feel like a "light weight" and it feels good!  I have so much more "umph and energy."
• I LOVE tennis balls and dog toys ~ although I can't chase them yet, I can chomp and chew on them.  And of course, catch them when they head my way.
• I really want to play with the other dogs in the field and I tried.  They thought they were kinda like "body slammed" by a walrus ~ but hey, I want to get in on the fun!
• The cold weather is affecting me and getting into my bones; just like so many of you who feel the pains of winter coming on (NO, I didn't say that!)
• And I got another one of those icky bladder infections.  So, when your friends and family tell you "DRINK more water!" PLEASE listen to them, it is for your own good. 
• But ... I squatted and peed on my own the other day (AND that my fans, is a really huge deal!)

Everyday, I continue to meet more people and be surrounded by more and more angels.  Did you know if you just look around ~ they are everywhere!

• Auntie Sherrie dontated 2 more sessions of hydrotherapy for ME.  (GREAT, that means more work ... but it also means more weight loss and strength.)
• Animal Advocates generously offered a Dollar for Dollar Matching Grant up to $1,000 and the MATCH was MET by several caring folks, including a $1,000 donation from an Anonymous Angel who couldn't resist my cuteness and the challenges I am facing!
• All of the donations went directly to pay off my previous bills (and I had a lot of them) and will "continue" to pay for vet/medical bills, medications, and ongoing rehab (i.e. hydrotherapy and acupuncture).  (Maybe I should see about starting a college fund while I'm at it ... just kidding!)

I am such a lucky dog and SO very, very thankful! WOOF!

I know, you can't wait to hear how those pounds are rolling off. Well, I weighed in at 114.8 on October 21st (YAHOO!) and up to 3 mph, 264 yards and 10 minutes on the treadmill while Joy is working those back legs!  That's about 13 "ish" pounds in a little over 2 months - just what Dr B. said is a safe rate.

That reminds me, I wanted to tell you about the cat that I met at the vet.  Fifi weighed 32 pounds and had to be weighed on the dog scale (how humiliating ... I know!)  This poor cat can't walk or barely move and had sores all over its belly ... sound familiar?

Fifi looked a lot like Otto (shown here).  Otto made it on the Today Show earlier this year, for weighing the equivalent of a 500 pound man.

Otto - click his picture for his whole story

So, I wanted to talk about the growing problem of overweight and obesity in our "pets" that join the 33.8% of adults and 17% of children and adolescents aged 2 - 19 who are obese.

Fifi, Otto and I are just THREE of the approximately 53% of cats and 55% of dogs that are overweight or obese according to the latest study by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP). 

These numbers keep going up every year.  Last year's study revealed 45% of dogs and 58% of cats were classified as overweight or obese by their vets. 

This equals almost 90 million pets at risk for developing diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney and respiratory disease and many forms of cancer ... costing pet owners millions in avoidable medical costs. 

Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) claims it pays out over $14 million in weight-related claims each year.  Dr. Ward stated:  "It's not only the cost in tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars in largely preventable medical expenses that concerns me.  It's the incalculable  
suffering and needless loss of life that compels me to take action against obesity.  Pet obesity is far the greatest health threats our pets face."

It is a very scary thing, knowing how many health risks are associated with this problem.  I just want to be able to walk, run, be healthy and be a dog!

I understand the struggles that I am going through and know it is the same for people and other pets out there to "drop those unwanted pounds" - It is very hard work and you need a lot of help!

That's where I come in, my dream is to share my journey and successes (and those of others like me) and to be an inspiration to people (like you) who may be faced with weight, health, or other personal challenges ... and of course, being the "spokes-dog" for pet parents and their pets!  Please Visit my "Resources for Pets Like Me" to learn more.

I'm getting ready to head off to meet some pretty awesome kindergartners ... you won't want to miss this "field trip."

~ Summer

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