The Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA) recently held an event at the House of Commons to raise awareness of pet obesity and launch the third edition of its Pet Obesity Report: Pet Obesity – Ten Years On (2009-2019).

The event was hosted by Giles Watling MP on behalf of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare (APGAW).

Canine guests at the event included representatives from Pets As Therapy (PAT), Therapaws (ran by Mayhew), Hounds for Heroes (which provides dogs to help war heroes with their rehabilitation and the Met Police dogs that do the security around Westminster).

Michael Bellingham, chief executive of the PFMA, said: “We held this important event to raise awareness of pet obesity, which is a life-limiting condition. Research has highlighted that dogs kept in lean body condition can live up to two years longer – surely that is the most persuasive fact of all time.”

• Read about the latest report, which includes research from 300 vets and 8,000 UK pet owning households, in the July issue of OvertheCounter.