A CHUBBY bunny will be taking part in a fit club to tackle obesity in people's pets.

Three-year-old Grace who hails from Whiston has been signed up for the PDSA's Pet Fit Club which offers pet owners the chance to undergo a tailored diet and exercise plan overseen by vets and nurses over a six month period.

Findings from the latest PDSA Animal Welfare report (PAW) say that four out of five vets have seen an increase in cases of obesity over the last two years.

And the organisation is on the alert after it found that almost half of pet owners are not aware of the importance of the issue.

According to the report 61 per cent of pet owners in the north of England regularly feed their animals high calorie treats such as crisps, cake and takeaways.

Obesity can contribute to pets developing deadly conditions that can cut their lifespan, such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes, as well as debilitating conditions including arthritis.

Grace who has a double chin has been classed as obese.

Dorothy Davies who has had Grace since she was eight weeks old said: “Grace seemed to be a normal size, then one day I looked out of the window and noticed that she’d suddenly got a double chin.

“Her favourite snacks are apples and carrots. She just loves food, which is a problem because she eats my other rabbits’ and guinea pigs’ food.”

Grace hopes the campaign will educate other owners about what food is best for pets.

Owners can enter their pets details at petfitclub.org.uk. The deadline for entries is Sunday, April 26, 2015.