If your New Year's resolution was to shed a few pounds, Kale Chips the beagle can sympathize.
The ironically named 85-pound beagle was recently surrendered to Chicago Animal Care and Control by an elderly owner.
"They said he was urgent, meaning he could be euthanized at any time," said Heather Owen, board president of One Tail at a Time, which takes in endangered dogs from shelters around Chicagoland. The group was alerted to Kale Chips' story by a group of volunteers at Chicago Animal Care and Control.
After taking him to an offsite veterinarian - on a little red wagon - Kale Chips was deemed mostly healthy. The only problem? Joint problems from weight overload.
"He's just really overweight," Owen said. "We were very, very, very happy. We weren't expecting that."
Owen said it isn't uncommon to see severely under- or overweight dogs come through the rescue center, but Kale Chips is a special case. "It's rare to see anything this crazy," she said.
Despite having some trouble walking and getting "grumpy" when he has to do so, Kale Chips is a very affectionate pup.
"He loves people. He's super friendly," Owen said. "When I met him, I gave him a big hug, and he was licking my face."
It's estimated Kale Chips will need to lose about half his bodyweight, Owen said. To support his pound-shredding journey, One Tail at a Time has set up a fundraising campaign called the Team Kale Chips Challenge. Now through Feb. 28, the organization is asking participants to set a mileage goal they will aim to walk, run, swim and bike and to donate $1 for each. It's also asking for a $5 donation for every mile they fall short. All proceeds support One Tail at a Time.
"We wanted to do a [campaign] for beginners," she said. "Kale's journey to good health is going to be really slow."
For now, Kale Chips is being monitored at a local vet. In about a week, Owen said, he will be sent to a foster home where he will eat a diet specially designed to help him trim off about one pound per week. In the meantime, K9 Swim and Trim, an aquatic dog-training center in Downers Grove, Ill., has agreed to donate its weight-loss services to try to slim down Kale Chips' weight through hydrotherapy.
Depending on the success of those efforts, Kale Chips' could be available for adoption in about one month. One Tail at a Time also hopes to raise money by selling "Team Kale Chips" T-shirts, which should be available soon, Owen said.
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