'scuse me if this has already been posted.

The owners of a chocolate-coloured labrador which weighed more than 11 and-a-half-stones have appeared in court accused of allowing the dog to become "morbidly obese".

Prosecutors said Derek Benton, 62, and his brother David, 53, caused the animal unnecessary suffering by allowing its weight to increase by more than three-and-a-half stones in two years.

The nine-year-old dog, called Rusty, has lost three-and-a-half stones since being taken from the brothers' home in Fordham, Cambridgeshire, by RSPCA inspectors in March, magistrates in Ely, Cambridgeshire, were told.

Stephen Climie, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA, said the Benton brothers had caused unnecessary suffering by failing to provide the dog with an appropriate diet.

He said an RSPCA inspector found the dog to be "hugely and grossly" overweight when he saw it in February.

"(Rusty) could not walk a few steps before having to sit," said Mr Climie.

"He certainly collapsed if he was kept standing."

Mr Climie said the dog suffered pain in his joints and had difficulty breathing.

Both brothers deny causing unnecessary suffering. The hearing continues.

So - while I find this quite sad for the dog, it does make me wonder how long it will be before we see 'parents sued over obese child(ren)'.

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