Knoxville, Tenn. - Mabel the beagle waddled into the life of veterinary nutritionist Dr. Angela Witzel at a whopping 67 pounds. She was one of 35 million dogs in the United states considered overweight.
Witzel says at almost three times her ideal size, "She was really sad. I mean she was pitiful, and definitely the fattest dog I had ever seen."
Mabel's previous owners dropped her off an animal shelter in Knoxville, Tennessee in January. They claimed she was too big for them to take care of.
Witzel took one look and fell in love. "I saw her when she came in and about an hour later I was starting the adoption process."
Witzel immediately signed Mabel up for the University of Tennessee's Canine Fat Camp.
After a regimen of underwater treadmill workouts and limited calories, Mabel's true shape started to emerge. Six months later, Mabel has shed almost 30 pounds. She has a goal to lose 15 more.
Mabel's owner says without the excess weight, the beagle is active again. She even took part in a Mardi Gras parade and created her own workout video.
When all the weight is gone, she might even have a tummy tuck to remove the loose skin left over from her fat days.
Mabel "before" losing 30 pounds-CNN
