Last year’s Pet Fit Club winner was Jack Russell terrier Ruby, from Sunderland, who shed an impressive one-third of her bodyweight. When she started the six-month diet and exercise programme back in May 2013, she tipped the scales at 9.1kg (1st 6 lb), making her morbidly obese and more than 50% overweight.

Ruby’s waistline grew after she was adopted by owner Angela Martin (41) four years ago. A former stray, Ruby was ‘spoilt rotten’ to compensate for her tough start in life. But all the snacks and titbits led to unhealthy weight gain.

“It got to the stage where she couldn’t jump on the sofa or the bed,” said Angela. “The only thing she would move for was food. But now she’s like a puppy again and loves to run on the beach. Entering Pet Fit Club is the best thing we have done for Ruby.”

Find out more about Ruby here: http://youtu.be/WUYv8v_cIok

The diet food for the Pet Fit Club finalists is kindly sponsored by Hill's and Burgess. The winning cat and dog win a year's free food from Hill's, and the winning rabbit wins a year's free Burgess Excel food. The overall Pet Fit Club champ's owner will win a pet-friendly break, kindly sponsored by Hill's.



PDSA head nurse Lindsay Atkinson holds Ruby before Pet Fit Club 2013. Top picture: Ruby afterwards.