Do you think this dog bears a resemblance to a certain Star Wars character?
When Bertha arrived at an Ohio shelter in November 2019, she weighed 63 pounds. That was about double what a healthy Puggle (Pug and Beagle mix) should weigh. A veterinary technician named Meredith Wille saw Bertha’s photo online and immediately fell in love.
She contacted the shelter to ask if she could foster the sweet rescue dog. She even offered to cover the costs for Bertha’s weight loss journey. Wille knew it would be a long and difficult road to recovery, but she couldn’t let this innocent dog down. She knew she had to help Bertha live her best life.
Bertha’s Incredible Transformation
The shelter quickly accepted Wille’s foster application, and she started Bertha’s weight loss treatment right away. She served a high-protein, low-fat diet and only gave low-calorie treats. She also brought the pup in for biweekly underwater treadmill sessions at Steel City Canine Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine where she works as a clinic director.
“She was like Jabba the Hutt,” Wille said. “She’d take three steps and have to lay down.”
Bertha’s progress was slow at first, but still prominent. When she began her underwater treadmill sessions, she could only walk for 15 seconds at a time before getting exhausted. Now, she has built up her strength enough to take 20-minute walks. On top of the treadmill exercise, Wille also has the pup practice walking up and down the stairs to improve her balance.
Bertha lost 20 pounds by the summer of 2020. Heading into the new year, she is down a total of 33.5 pounds and weighs in at 29.5 lbs, a healthy weight for her size. She had some ups and downs during her recovery—including surgery to repair collapsed tendons in her ankles—but she kept going strong. Now her weight loss has greatly improved her health!
Surrounded by Love and Support
Not only did Bertha have a life-changing transformation this past year, but she also found her forever family. Wille fell in love with the charming foster dog and decided to adopt her. Wille was already a dog mom to five other canines, but she had room in her heart for yet another.
“She’s not going anywhere!” said Wille. “People say, ‘You did miracles for her.’ All I did was love this sweet little dog.”
Bertha also became the perfect office dog at Wille’s job at the rehabilitation clinic. Wille says that her clients are upset when Bertha isn’t around. Apparently, the rescue pup loves to comfort the other dogs at the clinic, so she’s a star employee.
Now, Bertha even has her own Instagram page where Wille shares plenty of adorable updates on her adventures. She is living the full, normal life of a loved, well-cared-for dog. And it’s all thanks to Wille, who was kind enough to take a chance on her when no one else would.
H/T: people.com
Featured Image: @bertha_gets_bitty/Instagram
Toledo, United States.
