Fat cats and dogs have been slimming down in a race to win the Pet Slimmer of the Year competition, and it has given some of the dieting pets a new lease of life.

Ten dieting cats and dogs beat rivals from all over the home counties to become the regional finalists battling it out to enter the national Hill's Pets Slimmer competition.

The winner of the regional final in Hertfordshire on Wednesday, November 14, will go through to the UK final at the Conrad Hotel in Chelsea on January 31, 2002.

Local contenders include eight-year-old Purley Great Dane Gertie, who lost 25 kilos with the help of the Village Animal Hospital in Caterham.

Barbara Salisbury, her owner, said: "She'd been very ill and we nearly lost her a couple of years ago. So I spoiled her for a while but noticed she had become very lethargic."

Mrs Salisbury added: "In four months she was back to her old self. Without this diet I don't think she would be here now because Great Danes don't have long lives."

The competition was launched by Hill's Pet Nutrition to help raise awareness of pet obesity, which affects more than half of Britain's domestic cats and dogs, making over seven million fat pets.

The winners will receive six month's food and their owners win a £250 holiday.

November 15, 2001 09:30