An inspirational dog in Oregon is winning the battle of the bulge while his owner is winning the battle of his custody.
Obie, a daschund, owes all his weight-loss success to his foster mom, Nora Vanatta, who has just won a court battle to keep him in her care.
When Vanatta began caring for him, Obie weighed a whopping 77 pounds, three times what a normal daschund should weigh.
After starting a rigorous diet plan, detailed in a Facebook page dedicated to Obie's weight-loss battle, donations to help with his medical bills began to arrive.
This fanfare caught the attention the Oregon Daschund Rescue Group, who sued Vanetta for exploiting Obie.
Vanatta said she didn't know she was adopting a famous dog, and after a court settlement has allowed her to keep her pudgy pet, she is relieved she and Obie can finally move on.
"It was just imperative that I fought for him. I think when they brought the lawsuit against me they thought I would just hand him over," the proud pet owner said.
Vanatta said she does not think Obie would have lived much longer had they not begun the diet plan. She said that Obie is happy now and people can tell he is doing well.
The now-49-pound Obie still has 10 more pounds to go before he reaches his weight goal.
Vanatta said she hopes to give Obie skin reduction surgery in the near future to make it easier for him to exercise.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 12:26 AM EDT2013-05-21 04:26:18 GMT
A monstrous tornado at least a half-mile wide roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods and destroying an elementary school with a direct blow.
A monstrous tornado at least a half-mile wide roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods and destroying an elementary school with a direct blow.
Monday, May 20 2013 11:08 PM EDT2013-05-21 03:08:39 GMT
An ugly business stained with sex, drugs and violence is exploding on the Internet. It's called sex trafficking, and it happens right here in our area.
An ugly business stained with sex, drugs and violence is exploding on the Internet. It's called sex trafficking, and it happens right here in our area.
Monday, May 20 2013 11:07 PM EDT2013-05-21 03:07:00 GMT
A woman says she got kicked out of a Montgomery County mall for wearing a cancer-awareness hat. But it's the language, not the message, that got her into trouble.
A woman says she got kicked out of a Montgomery County mall for wearing a cancer-awareness hat. But it's the language, not the message, that got her into trouble.
Monday, May 20 2013 10:20 PM EDT2013-05-21 02:20:18 GMT
Mike Kersten and his wife Lisa of Croydon, Lower Bucks County opened their front door over the weekend only to find police telling them to stay inside. A large black bear was spotted climbing one of
A black bear seen in Bucks County is still the talk of the area for residents.
Monday, May 20 2013 7:27 PM EDT2013-05-20 23:27:47 GMT
A century-old community staple in Cherry Hill was up for auction Monday. The Woodcrest Country Club has experienced some financial problems recently, and after efforts from the township and the Freeholders
Cherry Hill's Woodcrest Country Club went up for auction Monday, with a pending sale in place after an offer from a Marlton-based developer.
Monday, May 20 2013 5:13 PM EDT2013-05-20 21:13:26 GMT
The family of the 5-year-old kindergartner abducted in broad daylight from her Philadelphia school is now planning on suing the city and the school district.
The family of the 5-year-old kindergartner abducted in broad daylight from her Philadelphia school is now planning on suing the city and the school district.
