A pet fit competition run by a veterinary charity will see 18 of the UK's fattest animals get in shape. Pet Fit Club run by the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) encourages overweight cats, dogs and rabbits to lose weight. Specialist vets will be guiding the owners of each of these supersized pets on their journey to good health by providing a balanced diet and tailored exercise plan. The contestants - 11 dogs, five cats and two rabbits - are carrying a combined excess weight of more than 24 stone - the equivalent of 380 tins of dog food, 35 average-sized cats or 50 Yorkshire Terriers. All of the finalists fall into the category of obese or morbidly obese and desperately need to lose weight to improve their quality of life. Sean Wensley, PDSA Senior Veterinary Surgeon, said: "Excess pounds can contribute to a number of serious health conditions and, sadly, it does reduce life expectancy. "But the good news is that it's never too late to make positive changes to a pet's diet and lifestyle."