Everybody knows that food was an excellent motivator for dogs. Food-motivated canines learned tricks quickly, adapted certain behaviors and house etiquette, and generally behaved themselves. Dogs love eating food so much that they did everything they could to get it.
Typically, Golden retrievers were known for being foodies. They ate whatever their owners gave them, fully trusting that their owners knew what was best for them. These dogs were also naturally active and needed their daily dose of exercise to keep in shape.
One particular retriever struggled with obesity because his former owner overfed him and neglected his exercise regimen. Kai weighed a whopping 173 lbs, a far cry from the average 55-75 lbs that Golden retrievers were usually at. He was unable to move freely, and every step he made caused excruciating pain.
His old owner brought him to the vet to have him put down, but thankfully, the vet refused. Instead, he got the poor dog to an animal shelter, the Misfits of Alberta Animal Rescue. That was where Kai met a wonderful woman who soon helped him turn his life around.
Pam Heggie rolled up her sleeves and quickly went to work. She helped Kai build his stamina with a water treadmill and daily walks to the dog park and monitored his diet carefully until he reached his desired weight. It was an uphill battle that brought endless challenges, but Kai and Pam finally did it!
Now, Kai weighed 68 lbs and mainly ate fruits and vegetables as snacks. He ran smoothly and adored going to the dog park every single day. After he lost more than 100 lbs, Kai received a second chance to live the best life that he can.
Such an inspiring story about a strong and amazing good boy!
Photos courtesy of This Is Kai via Facebook