News – Fat Dog ‘Could Not Scratch Ears’

When he was removed from his owner Bob weighed 64kg

A dog that was so fat he could not scratch his own ears has shed a third of his body weight after being confiscated from his previous owner.

Fat Bob, thought to have been the heaviest dog in Scotland at 64kg, has been re-homed and put on a strict diet and exercise regime.

Owner, Ralph Dryden from Motherwell, was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering by over-feeding him.

The four-year-old black Labrador has been adopted by a family from Paisley.

The dog piled on the pounds due to a diet of fish suppers and four tins of dog food a day.

He was removed from his previous owner in January after a vet examined him and found him to be “dangerously obese”.

The difference in him is amazing, he has got a spring back in his step Paul McShane New owner

At a hearing at Hamilton Sheriff Court, Dryden was convicted of causing the animal unnecessary suffering.

Sentence was deferred for six months for good behaviour.

Since being re-homed in March, Bob has slimmed down to a lean 41kg thanks to a strict diet and six-mile walks.

New owner Paul McShane said: “Bob had to be lifted into the car when we first got him, he couldn’t even walk the distance from the car to the front door of the house.

“He also couldn’t climb onto a bed or be trusted on the stairs.

“I was told on some occasions Bob was getting fed four big tins of dog food as well as a fish supper a day.”

New owner Paul McShane says the difference in Bob is amazing

He added: “We have been very careful with his diet and have managed to get his weight under control.

“The difference in him is amazing, he has got a spring back in his step.”

During the court hearing Dryden claimed the dog was a stray and was already fat when he took it in off the street.

Fiona Greig, from the Scottish SPCA, said: “Sometimes through an owner’s ignorance animals can suffer and that’s exactly what happened with Bob.

“This was a case of extreme over-feeding, to the point that the vet who examined Bob stated that he was dangerously obese and being caused unnecessary suffering as a result.

“On the positive side, Bob has now been re-homed with a family who are maintaining his diet.”