At Crooked Leg Ranch near Quesnel, six-year-old dog Dolly hobbled on all fours, happy to be roaming about outside with her furry friends.

It hasnB次元官网网址檛 been easy for the obese Husky Border Collie mix to get to this point after weighing more than twice the average canine her size at 125 pounds.

A foster family with the animal sanctuary helped her lose some weight beginning in October of 2021.

Through a restricted low-fat diet, Dolly was able to shed some weight and even go up and down a couple of stairs to get into the backyard.

Before then, her mobility was severely limited and she struggled to breathe when laying down.

B次元官网网址淭hey did really great with her, and they got her down with a 20-pound weight loss which is pretty significant,B次元官网网址� said Willow Eyford, volunteer at the ranch.

Eyford was taken aback at how overweight Dolly was and described loading Dolly into a truck as a feat in itself.

Dolly became overweight after her previous owner overfed her.

Because Dolly started to no longer get along with her foster familyB次元官网网址檚 small dog, she now spends her day with other rescues at Crooked Leg Ranch, such as Donkey, a donkey from Mission with metabolic disease, Marty, a 700-pound pig who was born paralyzed, and Buster, a friendly dog who has been at the sanctuary for the past eight years after arriving with a zombie-like appearance due to a chronic skin infection.

B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 so quiet and shy, and she likes to just watch, but sheB次元官网网址檚 done really well, and she is starting to pick up the cues from the other dogs,B次元官网网址� Eyford said.

B次元官网网址淲hen they get they get excited, sheB次元官网网址檚 like B次元官网网址極k,

I donB次元官网网址檛 know what weB次元官网网址檙e doing, but IB次元官网网址檓 excited about it too,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址攊tB次元官网网址檚 pretty funny.B次元官网网址�

While DollyB次元官网网址檚 first day at Crooked Leg Ranch was a bit B次元官网网址渙verwhelmingB次元官网网址�, she has since settled down.

Eyford suspects DollyB次元官网网址檚 dislike of the other dogs being rambunctious and playing near her was because she could not previously move or defend herself due to her weight, which left her feeling vulnerable.

B次元官网网址淪he gets excited when she sees us now in the morning when we come upstairsB次元官网网址攕heB次元官网网址檚 like dancing,B次元官网网址� Eyford said.

B次元官网网址淚 think if she physically could, she would jump up on us like youB次元官网网址檙e here, but she canB次元官网网址檛, so she just kind of rolls back and forth.B次元官网网址�

Dolly still has at least 40 pounds to lose before reaching a healthy weight.

On Sunday, March 13, Dolly slowly climbed down a relatively long flight of stairs. After she received a small treat with some of her friends who surrounded Eyford, Dolly then happily walked about the sanctuary without a leash, sniffing and taking a few breaks in between.

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B次元官网网址淵ou can tell sheB次元官网网址檚 just amazed at the world,B次元官网网址� Eyford said, adding Dolly watches closely when they play fetch with the other dogs.

B次元官网网址滻 think sheB次元官网网址檚 just been so isolated and restricted because of her size, so itB次元官网网址檚 going to be interesting when she can actually move normally what her personality is going to be like.B次元官网网址�

Like DollyB次元官网网址檚 newfound friends, Crooked Leg Ranch provides care to displaced and special needs pets and farm animals Eyford describes requiring a bit more care and time to get them to the point of optimal well-being and potentially being adopted out.

She was surprised Dolly arrived without skin problems related to obesity and said her existing health conditions remain unclear.

Many pet owners commonly make the association food is love and will compensate walking or other activities with treats.

B次元官网网址淒olly is definitely going to have arthritis when she gets older, and what damage has been done to her organs we donB次元官网网址檛 know yet,B次元官网网址� Eyford said.

B次元官网网址淥bese pets are a major problem, and youB次元官网网址檙e shortening the life of your pet.B次元官网网址�

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Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: rebecca.dyok@quesnelobserver.com