I have a pet rabbit – people started begging me to give it some exercise after thinking it was something else

A PET rabbit caused quite the stir with its abnormal size, leaving many to call on its owner to do more.

Zeus weighs in at 18 pounds, making him roughly the same weight as a one-year-old child.

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His owner, Sharon Close says that many people thought Zeus was a dog at first, believing that he should have been on a leash.

“When I told her he was a rabbit her jaw nearly hit the floor,” said Close.

Even Zeus’ companion, Nala, is a bit overweight herself.

Close took in the bunnies after finding them abandoned more than five years ago.

She said Nala and Zeus were found in a park where it was freezing, saying the bunnies were in awful condition and she wanted to treat them after all of their sufferings.

Because of Zeus’ massive weight, Close said she can’t lift him anymore.

“He’s just not interested in exercising or playing, even when I let him out in the garden,” said Close. “He just sits there.”

She’s now looking to send both Zeus and Nala to the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) “Pet Fit Club” competition to help them lose weight.

A spokesperson from Leicester Pet Hospital described Zeus as the biggest rabbit they’ve ever seen.

“He’s absolutely enormous,” the spokesperson said. “However, even small changes to an obese pet’s diet and exercise regime can have a big impact and potentially help them live longer.

“The Pet Fit competition will see 15 overweight dogs, cats, and rabbits selected to be given a diet and exercise program by vets.”

The program hopes to make slow adjustments to the animals‘ lifestyles.

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