Ralphie, an overweight bullmastiff who reached about 30% overweight, looks on as Bill Polish prepares dinner on Jan. 25, 2024. - Charles Fox/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS
PHILADELPHIA — Ralphie fell in love with lobster at first bite. Steak too.
But the pounds started creeping up. And up. In time, Ralphie’s doctor confirmed what his family already knew: At 30% overweight, the time had come for the South Philly Bullmastiff to go on a serious doggie diet.
In the Keystone State, Ralphie is far from alone. Pennsylvania’s dogs are the most overweight in the country, according to a survey conducted by Veterinarians.org, a veterinarian-informed information group on pet issues. The study found that Pennsylvania dogs carry over 18 excess pounds on average.
