Article: Weekend: Puppy love overdose; We treat our pets like part of the family. Some of us even treat them like our children. But spoiling your furry friend can have huge repercussions for their physical and mental health, as Caroline Foulkes discovers.(Features)

Byline: Caroline Foulkes

Betsy was a lovely dog. Even tempered, gentle. Loved fuss. Loved kids. No-one who walked past her kennel at the dogs' home could fail to stop and pet her. But no-one took her home.

Because everytime Betsy opened her mouth to let out a friendly bark, she'd just wheeze and cough.

"Oh Bets," said one of the kennel maids, reaching through the wire mesh of Betsy's cage to pet her, "no-one wants you, no-one wants you, do they, you little fatty?"

Betsy let out a low whoop of a cough and licked her hand.

Before ...

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