COLUMBUS, Ohio – Once so morbidly obese he could hardly walk, Dennis the dachshund is now a shadow of his former self.
Less than two years ago, Dennis weighed in at a whopping 56 pounds and could walk only a few feet without stopping, out of breath. That's about four or five times the size of a normal miniature dachshund.
But then Brooke Burton of Columbus adopted him from his previous owner, who had fed him White Castle burgers and other human food.
On a steady diet of strictly dog food and exercise, 6-year-old Dennis slimmed down to a svelte 12 pounds. He now loves to chase squirrels and play fetch.
He had so much excess skin left over after the weight loss that he needed three surgeries to get rid of it.