When Meredith Wille saw Bertha, a pug/beagle (puggle) mix that was up for adoption in November 2019, she knew in her heart that there was something she could do to help her.
The 49-year-old licensed veterinary technician, certified canine fitness trainer for dogs, and rehabilitation practitioner was horrified with how overweight the little darling was at 60 pounds. Her work entailed offering help to injured and obese dogs so she couldn’t turn a blind eye on her.
Wille knew that it would not be a comfortable journey to help Bertha trim down to a healthier weight. She still reached out to Stark County Humane Society located in Louisville, Ohio, where the little pup was housed and asked about the possibility of taking Bertha in.
And aside from signifying her interest to foster the dog, Wille took it upon herself to shoulder Bertha’s rehab expenses. The shelter immediately accepted her application, and after seven days of turning it in, Bertha was on her way home with Wille in Pittsburgh.
The good Samaritan likened Bertha to that infamous Star Wars character Jabba the Hutt. She says the puggle had struggled with movement—she’d take three steps, and then she’d have to lie down.
She didn’t waste a second in getting Bertha a weight-loss journey. She relied on a healthy diet which consisted of high-protein, low-fat food, and low-calorie treats. She also has an underwater-treadmill session at the Steel City Canine Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine facility twice a week. Wille works there as the clinic director, where she has five other dogs under her care.
At first, Bertha could only last for 15 seconds at a time during her underwater-treadmill sessions. But with enough work and perseverance that she and her foster mommy invested in, she can now do up to 20-minute strolls. Wille included low-impact exercises such as going up and down the stairs to the dog’s routine to help build up her weight-shifting and balance strength.
And just in time for the summer of 2020, the beloved puggle was able to lose 20 pounds! She also had surgery in June to correct her ankles, which collapsed due to her previous obesity. This was able to put a whole new spring in her step!
Wille proudly says that it was a game-changer in Bertha’s life—it made her very mobile.
Currently, Bertha has reached her goal weight of 29.5lbs. And in another good news, Wille decided to keep the little canine #fitspiration.
The canine fitness coach and new fur-mommy exclaims that Bertha is not going anywhere! And while many people tell her that she has done miracles for little Bertha, she humbly says that she did nothing but give her love.
And lovable she is—employees at the Steel City Canine Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine facility have made her a vital part of the team.
Wille says that her clients get upset if they don’t see Bertha at the clinic. There are times Bertha would come up and sit with another dog who’s getting treatment, and she would just be present as if to say that she’s just there to hold the other dog’s hand and make everything alright.
Source: @bertha_gets_bitty / Instagram
