It was hard to figure out if Rusty, a Labrador retriever, was unpleasantly fatty or a victim of cruelty. That is until the Scotsman newspaper reported that the poor dog was the victim of cruelty and negligence by its owner..
According to the Scotsman’s report Rusty weigh 162 pounds, twice what he should have weighed which left him resembling a walrus.
A magistrate in Cambridgeshire fined the dog owners, brothers Derek, 62, and David Benton, 53. The court ordered that the slimmed down dog should be returned to its owners on the condition they provide proper care for at least three years.
According to Bentons, Rusty was overweight because he was suffering from arthritis that kept him from exercising.
The RSPCA said that Rusty, aged 11, was so overweight that he could barely walk and would collapse if kept standing. The charity said that Rusty lost 48 pounds after being put on a diet and exercise program. The RSPCA said that the cost of the exercise program and painkilling drugs were very expensive.
Further they said that they were not happy to return Rusty to his owners.
