- According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, 53% of adult dogs and 55% of cats in the US are obese or overweight.
- 22% of dog owners and 15% of cat owners said their pet's weight was normal when it was actually overweight or obese.
- The "fat pet gap" is the normalization of obesity by pet owners. (Read: fat pets = the new normal.)
- Cats who are 10 to 20% over their ideal body weight are considered overweight. Cats 20% over their ideal weight are considered obese.
- Veterinarians believe that there is a direct correlation between childhood and pet obesity.
- Obesity is the number one health problem in pet birds. Most birds have food available all the time, so they don't have to work for their dinner.
- There are scientifically formulated nutritional products to help with healthy and safe weight reduction in dogs. It is not a good idea to simply reduce the volume of their current food. This will cause malnourishment over time.
- If your pet is overweight or obese, it can cause arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease, certain cancers, heart and respiratory disease, and other problems.
- According to the Purina Lifespan Study, obesity takes almost two years off a dog's life.
- To check if your pet is obese or overweight, you should be able to easily feel your pet's ribs without pressing on the pet and your pet’s stomach should be tucked in.
- Veterinarians determine if a pet is overweight or obese by its body condition score (BCS). Veterinarians assess the amount of stored fat and assign a number to score if a pet is underweight, overweight, or just right. Source
Founded in 1952, Brevard's Humane Society is the community's oldest established animal welfare organization. A "no kill for space" shelter, the Humane Society is dedicated to "speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves". We educate the community on responsible pet ownership and the humane treatment of animals, advocate for spaying/neutering to reduce the homeless pet population and provide the best quality care to Brevard's abandoned animals by placing them with responsible, caring owners in a new "forever" home. Website
The Brevard Humane Society will be celebrating St. Francis of Assisi Blessing of the Animals on Sunday, October 4th, beginning at 1:30 p.m., at their Rainbow Bridge Chapel, located at 1020 Cox Road in Cocoa. The public is invited to attend along with their pets for this “blessed” event. Admission is FREE. Light refreshments provided by Sam’s Club of Cocoa will be served immediately following the ceremony.
In honor of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, a member of the clergy will provide blessings to shelter animals, individual pets and in memory of beloved pets that have passed away.
For more information, contact the Brevard Humane Society at (321) 636-3343 or email events@brevardhumanesociety.com.
