TLRT Slimmer of the Year - 2008 Contenders
- Slimmer of the year overview
- 2008 Slimmer of the year contenders
- 2007 Slimmer of the year - Honey
Regrettably The Trust sees a large number of Labs coming into rescue who are overweight, some just a little, most several Kgs and then there are the 'enormous' ones, but wonderful results can be achieved by controlled diet and exercise, with owners who fully understand how important it is to keep dogs at their correct weight.
Here we feature two 'very large' characters who have come into rescue and watch their story unfold and their continued weight loss.
One of our newest LRT dogs is Dudley.
Dudley's Story
Dudley came into rescue on 16th October 2007 and weighed in at 54.3 Kg, with a 38" waist. Lilian in Wiltshire, kindly volunteered to foster him to get some of the weight off and he is currently being weighed in at the vets every two weeks. The Labrador Rescue Trust is extremely grateful to Hill's Pet Nutrition for their very generous sponsorship of Dudley during his dieting programme.
Lilian reports –
Dude or Dudley as he is now known - actually, often called "cuddly Dudley", came to me on 16th October 2007, an oblong of blubber with a leg at each corner! Out of this mass protruded a lovely head with big brown eyes revealing a delightful disposition.
When Dudley was first discovered, he weighed 56.6kgs - two Labradors. When he came to me, the weight loss had already begun, thanks to Hill's Science Diet, and Dudley weighed in at my vet's at 54.3kgs.
Dudley settled in very quickly indeed, treating my cats with some curiosity mixed with caution. They in turn, soon realised he was yet another, easy going, visiting Labrador of which they have seen many. Charlie, my Labrador, sighs as if to say "another one?" But he doesn't mind at all and they get along very well indeed.
At first there was a lot of whining whenever I went out of sight. A hangover, I suspect, from having been left alone for hours on end. He is still a bit anxious, but getting better.
It was soon apparent that Dudley has a great sense of fun, and a favourite trick is to grab socks, shoes, hats or any other handy bit of property and dance away with the obvious challenge "catch me if you can". My washing up gloves sit on the edge of the sink, big mistake! Luckily I have spares, and they now reside out of reach!
As the weeks have passed Dudley has become more active and really runs about now, enjoying doing what young dogs should. He has made a lot of doggie friends, and the local bitches seem to like the cuddly type! A young whippet/lurcher has taken a particular shine to him, and when out on Salisbury Plain, flirted and 'raced' with him. A bit like a gazelle and buffalo!
Dudley goes to be weighed once a fortnight, and there has been a steady reduction in his weight. I have kept strictly to the amount recommended by Hill's, and the only treat is a half of one of Charlie's bedtime bikkies and an occasional finger sized chew if I have been out and left them for a while. The net result is that at the last weigh in, Dudley was down to 44.6kgs. As my vet, Enid Fantella, said, "it can be done with perseverence."
We still have a long way to go, but as Dudley becomes more energetic, the fat will convert to muscle, and already he has a bit of a waist! He still has shoulders like a Sumo wrestler and a backside like a cart horse, but I tell myself we are winning the fight on flab!
UPDATE - Dudley has now been successfully rehomed and continues to lose weight and get fitter.
UPDATE - Here is Dudley now (June 2008) - doesn't he look absolutely fabulous and what an amazing transformation.
Rolo's Story
Rolo peaked at 66.5 Kg, which is a truly colossal size for ONE Labrador - but size wasn't an issue for Tony and Jen of Brockenhurst, who were searching for a companion for their existing chocolate Lab Fudge.
Rolo is very gradually losing those extra kilos and with all the help and encouragement of his new family he is starting to enjoy a new lease of life.
To mark Tony's 60th birthday and to help The Labrador Rescue Trust raise funds in our 20th Anniversary year, Tony completed a sponsored walk in May 2008. The proceeds from Tony's walk was split equally between The Labrador Rescue Trust and Orchid.
Tony writes -
All our lives we bumble along collecting experiences as we go, and largely ignoring things that later in life become important. A number of years ago I received an enquiry for pallet collars, I should explain that I worked in the transit packaging industry, from Malcolm Russell who had a company called Pallet Legs. Malcolm and I worked together on a project he had for transporting cut flowers. I developed a great respect for Malcolm because he was so innovative and always optimistic and enthusiastic. He worked so hard and was so very motivated in the things he believed in, giving of himself and his time, which when you look back are the most valuable commodities we have. During this time Malcolm developed testicular and prostate cancer, and at times was in great pain, yet never gave up and worked through it as much as he could. We developed a firm friendship and thank goodness he has recovered, he now lives in northern Sweden and has remarried. When I had the opportunity to cycle in the New Forest Bike ride to raise money for the Orchid charity I saw this as a way to say thank you for the good that this man had done for me, and why should I stop there. I will be cycling again in 2008 but the walk is an idea that came to me while I was in the Peaks in October. 2008 will be my 60th year so I would like to mark the occasion by doing something rather than just letting it pass by in a wine effected haze.
Likewise Rolo came to us via LRT and we are so very grateful we would like to support The Labrador Rescue Trust as much as we can, we have tossed around all sorts of ideas but the practicalities of cash and lifestyle get in the way. One thing we thought of was to open a kennels in The Trusts name and run it so that Labs don't have to stay where they are unhappy, they could come to us prior to being rehomed. But financially this is impossible so we will just help in any way we can and raising a few bob by walking a few miles is nothing. Another motivation is to get Rolo fit enough to do the walk with us, Fudge (our other Lab) is so fit she could probably run it, but Rolo has a long way to go. He will never be as fit as her as he is always going to be a big boy, he has such a big frame he looks so cumbersome at times but we will get him as near as we can. We are so pleased to have him in our lives and to be able to give him another chance, as he is losing weight he is feeling fitter and taking on things that must have seemed impossible only a few months ago.
So I invited Malcolm over to come on this walk with Rolo, Fudge, my son Philip and myself. (I have many other reasons for being grateful for Philip). He has accepted and that is as far as we have got. I will start to look for sponsors for tents and clothing gear, but any help with this bit would be great, also a date and route will be set. We will also look for sponsors via a web site called Just Giving so friends can pledge money in confidence and we don't have the worry about collecting it.
The Trust wishes the intrepid trio + dogs good weather and happy walking – so if you wish to sponsor them through their 'pain barrier' then please let us know. Every penny gratefully received.
UPDATE - Tony and friends successfully completed their walk and have so far raised over £500.
Update from Tony (13/01/09) -
Its been a long time I know but I thought, as the winter is here and I have more time, I should just let you know about our "slimmer of the year".
The boy is doing really well and has now broken the 40kg barrier. He is now 39.55kgs and we are very proud of him. As you may know we have another Chock Lab called Fudge and she weighs in at 27kgs, fact - Rolo has lost almost as much weight than Fudge weighs and his waist measurement is now less than his neck was when he first came to us.
