Porky Wolverhampton pooch in running for pet slimming contest title

Bella the beagle's weight tipped the scales at 24kg (3st 11lb) after years of rummaging through kitchen bins for scraps.

But the Wolverhampton pet will now battle through a strict six-month diet and fitness regime after being selected for PDSA's Pet Fit Club.

The seven-year-old is set to compete against 12 other fat pets from across the country for the slimming contest title.

Owner Nikki Mason 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.

"She 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.”

The bulging beagle's weight has ballooned to more than 60 per cent her ideal weight of 15kg (2st 5lb).

She was already overweight when adopted by 51-year-old Ms Mason four years ago but has continued to pile on the pounds.

Bella does enjoy exercise but a knee ligament injury means she struggles on longer walks, Ms Mason added.

The dog's specially tailored diet and fitness programme will be overseen by Wolverhampton PDSA Pet Hospital, in Tuxford Close.

Sarah Banning, PDSA Vet Nurse, will help oversee Bella’s diet and 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."

The national competition, which launched in 2005, is the UK's largest pet slimming contest and has helped 124 overweight pets shed 450kg (71 stone) - equivalent to a grand piano or 160,000 doughnuts.

Bella will compete against six dogs, five cats and a rat, whose combined weight of 201kg (31st 7lb) is heavier than the World's Strongest Man.

The winner, who will be crowned later this year, will win a year’s free pet food, a pet friendly holiday and a pet hamper.