Biggest Loser, Doxie Edition: Obie the Dachshund Starts Weight Loss Challenge On Facebook

Obie the Dachshund was nearly loved to death.

According to Gawker, the five-year-old Dachshund was loved a little too much by his elderly owners. The dog’s previous owners couldn’t say no to the dog and continuously fed him food until he was more than 40 pounds over the normal weight.

Obie weight 77-pounds when the owners decided that they could no longer care for the dog and handed him over to the Oregon Dachshund Rescue for re-homing.

UPI reports that the dog has been adopted by Nora Vanetta, a Portland veterinary technician, who plans on putting Obie on a strict diet. Vanetta started the ”Biggest Loser, Doxie Edition” page on Facebook so dog lovers can watch Obie’s progress.

Vanetta wrote on Facebook:

“He is extremely sweet and loving… He was obviously loved and is a joy to work with. The ageing owners just couldn’t say no to those big brown eyes. I plan to do swim therapy with him and treadmill work once he starts to lose a little.”

Vanetta said that she hopes Obie can inspire other dogs and people to lose weight.

Vanetta said:

“I feel tremendously blessed to be involved in his rehabilitation and I am amazed at the outpouring of love and support that I have received… My hope is that he can be an inspiration to any person or animal trying to lose weight.”