Sophie was dangerously overweight - her legs were struggling to support her weight and she required the assistance of two staff members to transport her to the shelter. She was in desperate need of a fitness breakthrough.
When it came to helping Sophie lose weight there was no better candidate than RSPCA's inspector Stuart. The former personal trainer, now 'fitness fosterer', has developed a reputation for helping plus-sized dogs shed their puppy fat.
"After helping a dog named Morticia return to a healthy weight, I knew I could help others. She was a nine-year-old pug who hated exercise," laughed Stuart.
"Sophie definitely showed some resistance to start off with, but has slowly got on board the fitness train."
It's not going to be a sprint to the finish line
When Sophie first stepped on the scales she weighed an astonishing 53 kilos, almost four times as much as her breed's (Staffordshire Terrier) average weight.
The physical toll this was taking on her body was astronomical. When Sophie laid sideways she was unable to rest her head, she is still unable to be transported in normal-sized cars and requires transport in RSPCA's animal ambulance.
"I started off on 50 to 100-metre walks and that would totally knock her out. I was really worried about the toll it was having on her legs and heart. I had to make sure we were going at her pace," said Stuart.
"She was extremely fussy with her food to start off with. It's hard to imagine what she was originally eating."
Life is already changing for the better
Over the past few weeks, Stuart has witnessed a complete transformation in Sophie's behaviour. She has gone from barely moving off the couch, to greeting him at the door when he returns home from work.
The distances Sophie can travel have gradually increased and she has now gotten to the point where she is excited to go for a walk.
"She harasses me to go for walks now – it's really funny. She's not nearly as tired and drinks less water now, which is good," said Stuart.
"While she has lost quite a bit of weight and her quality of life has improved, she's still massively overweight. It has been a really positive journey so far and I can't wait to see her push past her goals."
Stuart is always excited to celebrate Sophie's fitness milestones. From being able to fit through the doggy door for the first time, to climbing the stairs, Stuart is always there to grab a picture of the moment of triumph.
"I've found her in my bed a couple of times now, which is up the stairs. I'm so proud to see her climb all the way up there by herself even if it is just to go back to sleep," laughs Stuart.
"She's slowly starting to play now and do things that all dogs should enjoy. I have a feeling she is going to be an absolute firecracker when she loses even more weight. There will be no stopping her. "
Inspiring fitness across South Australia
Stuart was ecstatic to hear that Sophie had been chosen as RSPCA's Million Paws Walk Ambassadog for South Australia, saying he couldn't wait to share her story with the wider public.
"She's such a trooper. I think everyone will grow to love her as much as I do and I think she is the perfect candidate to help raise awareness for both animal cruelty and animal obesity."
You can donate to Sophie's Million Paws Walk Page HERE.
