Bella the Beagle, from Wolverhampton, whose love of scavenging from the bin has seen her balloon to around 60% overweight, has reached the finals of the UK’s largest pet slimming competition – PDSA Pet Fit Club.

Porky pooch Bella (7) has been selected to compete against 12 other fat pets from across the UK, including dogs, cats and even a rotund dumbo rat. Together they weigh 201 kg (31st 7lb) – more than the World’s Strongest Man and Game of Thrones’ ‘The Mountain’, Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson. They need to lose a combined total of 75kg (11st 12lb) to reach their ideal weights.

Bella’s story

Weighing in at a whopping 24kg (3st 11lb), Bella has scoffed her way to tipping the scales at 60% over her ideal weight (15kg/2st 5lb).

When Bella’s owner Nikki Mason (51) adopted her around four years ago she was already slightly overweight, but she’s continued to pile on the pounds.

One of the main issues has been Bella’s scavenging, which has seen her rummaging through the kitchen bin for scraps and once led her to steal an entire beef joint which had been cooked for Sunday dinner.

Nikki, who is a carer for her mother, Janice Morgan (72) said: “Bella just loves food. She’s also a scavenger, I came home the other day to find she had got in the bin and there was food all over the kitchen floor.

“Bella has also stolen food in the past. One Sunday I left a joint of beef on the side wrapped in the foil, but she managed to get her paws on it and knock it on to the floor before wolfing it down! She also has a tendency to bury food for later in the garden.

“Bella used to get too many titbits. She had leftovers from our meals and we got a bit complacent. We also didn’t weigh out her food, but all that’s changed now. We’re determined to help her slim down.”

Nikki said her beloved dog does enjoy exercise but a previous knee ligament injury means she can struggle on longer walks. She wants to help her lose weight to ease the impact on her joints and enjoy a healthier future.

Bella’s six-month Pet Fit Club diet and exercise programme will be specially tailored and overseen by the vets and nurses at Wolverhampton PDSA Pet Hospital, located on Tuxford Close.

Sarah Banning, PDSA Vet Nurse, who will be helping to oversee Bella’s diet, said: “Pet obesity is an epidemic that is seriously impacting the lives of millions of pets across the country. As with humans, carrying excess weight has serious health implications for our four-legged friends. It can increase the chances of them suffering from life-limiting and life-threatening conditions such as arthritis, diabetes and heart diseases.”

“With the help of PDSA and Pet Fit Club, Bella and Nikki are making the necessary diet, exercise and lifestyle changes to help get Bella down to a healthier weight. We will support them every step of the way over the next six months to ensure they succeed.

“If owners are worried about their pet’s weight they should seek advice from their vet, who can also make sure pets are on the right type of diet, being fed the correct amount and work with them to help increase their pet’s exercise levels.”

PDSA Pet Fit Club

Pet Fit Club is a strict six-month diet and exercise programme. Participating pets are placed on individually tailored regime, designed for their specific needs and overseen by vets and vet nurses at their local PDSA Pet Hospital.

The national competition has been running since 2005 and is the biggest of its kind in the UK. To date it has helped 124 overweight and obese pets (79 dogs, 37 cats and 8 rabbits) lose an incredible 450kg (71 stone) - equivalent to a grand piano or 160,000 doughnuts! Last year’s winner, Alfie the Beagle, from Middlesbrough, successfully shed an astonishing 34% of his bodyweight.

Bella will be competing against 6 dogs, 5 cats and a rat, including Benji the cat from Glasgow who is so overweight that he no longer fits through the cat flap; Mr T the rat from Swansea who at nearly 1kg weighs double his ideal weight, and Borris the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, whose monstrous appetite once saw him devour a set of false teeth and who is now a colossal 80% over his ideal body weight.