K9 Fit Club® Founder Tricia Montgomery Asks Pet Owners to GET OFF YOUR BUTT and WORK OUT WITH YOUR MUTT ™ on National Pet Obesity Awareness Day

CHICAGO, Oct. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- K9 Fit Club® – the nation's leader in canine and human fitness – is reaching out to pet owners across the country, asking them to GET OFF YOUR BUTT and WORK OUT WITH YOUR MUTT ™ to raise awareness for National Pet Obesity Day on October 8, 2014, and help their pets achieve wellness and greater vitality.

"K9 Fit Club aims to change lives, one dog at a time," explains Tricia Montgomery, founder and president of K9 Fit Club.  "Excess weight for dogs brings on numerous health risks, with obesity playing a role in decreased life expectancy.  It's time to regard pet obesity as the epidemic it really is, and for pet owners to use their passion and take action.  K9 Fit Club is committed to making this change."

During the month of October, K9 Fit Club is offering a promotion for fitness and pet enthusiasts who enroll in K9 Fit Club's online training certification program.  "Certified K9 Fit Club Trainers can make a tremendous and positive impact on pet and human health.  Our certification program provides convenient online training, tools, information, a pop up K9 Fit Kit™, and support from K9 Fit Club – everything needed to add to an existing business or a start up business in any community," says Montgomery.  The course, usually offered at $599, will be available at $450 from October 1-31, 2014. (Use Promo Code POD14)

Dr. Ernie Ward, DVM and founder and president of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) also urges pet owners to fight against pet obesity.  "A 2013 APOP study found that 52.6 percent of dogs and 57.6 percent of cats were overweight," said Ward, who serves as an advisor to K9 Fit Club.  "A host of preventable diseases are directly linked to obesity in pets."  The 2014 study is underway, and veterinarians can participate in assessing their patients on October 8, with forms available at petobesityprevention.org.

Adds Montgomery, "My hope is that pet owners take the opportunity to contribute to the better health of our pets, and that K9 Fit Club makes it possible with flexible certification training."

About K9 Fit Club
K9 Fit Club was developed by Tricia Montgomery, a former Executive Director and Public Education Director for the Chicago Veterinary Medical Association, and Public Relations & Media Director for the International Kennel Club Show.  Montgomery's personal experience shedding 130 pounds alongside her dog Louie (who also lost weight) compelled her to develop K9 Fit Club, now a formal, nationwide program of health, fitness, wellness, and weight loss, designed around people and their dogs.  With the nation's first-ever online certification program for human/canine fitness certification, pet and fitness enthusiasts can begin a career and help improve the wellness of pets and humans too.   K9 Fit Club is a member of or recognized by organizations including the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Medical Association, the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, Human Animal Bond Research Initiative, and the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention.  Connect with K9 Fit Club on Facebook, Twitter or Vine.

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SOURCE K9 Fit Club