Tale of pasties & pies: Plump pooch Georgie Porgie put on strict diet to help shed 34 kg

LONDON: A massive Alaskan malamute that ballooned in size after munching mostly on pasties and pies has been put on a strict diet to help him lose 34kg, nearly half his body weight.

The chunky canine, who weighs 70kg, was rescued by an animal welfare charity and taken to Gables Farm in Plymouth, Devon, where he is called George.

The shelter has earned a reputation for helping hefty hounds shed pounds and said he is the biggest dog there yet, the BBC reported.


The plump pooch, nicknamed "Georgie Porgie", needs to lose 34kg.

"He's a larger than life character," shelter manager Claire Sparkes said. "He's quite energetic considering how big he is."


Staff hope the six-year-old Alaskan malamute can follow in the footsteps of the shelter's other chunky characters, "Bopper the Whopper" and "Hattie the Fatty".

George is 20kg heavier than Bopper was when he arrived and 30kg heavier than Hattie.

The portly pair lost about 27kg between them at the shelter and Hattie was recently rehomed by one of her rescuers.

George, who came from mid Devon, was rescued because his owner could not afford to feed him the right food.


That meant the chunky chap was eating too many calories, causing him to acquire mass.

But they also suspected someone had been flinging food, including pasties and pies, over the garden fence to feed him.

Staff have now put the canine on a strict diet and are slowly increasing his exercise to help him lose weight safely.

The charity has also set up a fundraising campaign to help cover George's vet bills, including payments for low-calorie dog food and pain relief medicine.