A blind man has had his beloved guide dog taken away from him after being told the pooch is too fat.
Roger Debman was told to put his golden retriever Peter on a strict diet and exercise regime after tipping the scales at 7st 7lbs.
But even on a weight management diet, along with several walks a day, Peter has been unable to shift the pounds quickly enough to meet the Guide Dogs' optimum weight of 6st 3lbs.
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The 'devastated' 60-year-old has been forced to give five-year-old Peter up to foster care until the dog loses the weight, something that charity Guide Dogs have admitted 'could take a few months'.
Roger, who had two heart attacks and a stroke in 2008 that left him partially-sighted and registered blind, said he's 'disgusted' by the decision that he claims doesn't take into account his or Peter's welfare.
According to Roger, Peter 'maintains his weight beautifully', and would be 'too thin' if he were to reach the charity's optimum weight.
The dog owner, who claims to be 'lost' without Peter by his side, says he's forced to rely on his wife and neighbours being with him to feel safe enough to go out.
Guide Dogs said that maintaining the health of the dogs was 'absolutely paramount' and because 'unfortunately Peter was significantly overweight', they had placed him with a fosterer until he was slimmer, upon which he would be returned to Roger.
Roger, from Liverpool, Merseyside, said: "It's so bloody lonely here, it's an absolute nightmare.
"I've had two heart attacks and a stroke. From the stroke I was left partially sighted and also [had] a brain injury where I can't deal with stress anymore.
"When Guide Dogs come round they interrogate you like the secret police.
"Peter is two inches taller than the national average [for golden retrievers].
"If you don't know the height, length and width of a dog, how can you know an optimum weight for one?"
Roger says he does not believe Peter is overweight, and says his pooch has just grown as he transitions into a young adult dog.
"It might sound daft but he maintains his body weight beautifully. He's maintaining it at 49-49.5kgs but according to guide dogs that's overweight.
"Guide Dogs want him down to 40kgs, but my vet wants him at 45kgs.
"If you take it in human terms - every human is different. If you're trying to dictate to a dog every dog has got to be the same weight, it doesn't stack up."
The heartbroken owner said that Guide Dogs requested he take Peter for fortnightly weigh-ins so they can keep track of his weight.
Roger, who is still reeling from the loss of his previous guide dog Nevin who died four months ago, said despite increasing his exercise and monitoring his food intake, Peter failed to reach the charity's optimum weight.
When he missed the target, Roger received a phone call saying that Peter would be taken into temporary foster care, and on Friday [November 5] he was taken away.
Roger said: "I was told by phone they were taking him, they got me so stressed I had to pass the phone over to my wife.
"I went and sat on the doorstep while she was talking to them. When I heard her hang up I came in and she was bawling her eyes out.
"They turned up just after 11am [on Friday] and I've felt totally lost since. I hate to think what Peter's going through.
"They claim it's for his welfare but he's just recently lost [fellow guide dog] Nevin and now to be put somewhere he doesn't know, they're just not thinking of him.
"It's been a traumatic time not only for me but for Peter as well, he's just getting through it.
"I'm disgusted by it, it's been really upsetting."
Roger's wife Debra Debman, a 52-year-old nurse said Guide Dog's actions had 'devastated' them both.
Debra said: "I have worked as a registered nurse in the NHS with an unblemished record for 35yrs.
"During this time if I had spoken to or treated my patients like Guide Dogs have treated Roger and myself I would have been sacked or worse struck off from my professional register.
"Guide Dogs are supposed to be a caring organisation set up to help those with sight loss.
"There needs to be some urgent training on how to deal with people who have acquired brain injuries as these people often have anxiety and cannot cope with stress.
"Guide Dog's current actions have devastated both of us."
Guide Dogs chief veterinary officer Tim Davies said: "We want to create long-lasting and successful guide dog partnerships, and this is ultimately what we want to achieve for Mr Debman and Peter.
"We understand this is a difficult situation, but with Mr Debman's agreement, we temporarily placed Peter with a fosterer to help him lose weight and be healthy. Unfortunately Peter was significantly overweight.
"We assess all our dogs as individuals, taking into account factors such as age, height and breed and working closely with independent vets.
"In Peter's case both our staff and Mr Debman's vet used the body conditioning score used by all animal professionals to determine his ideal condition.
"When Peter approaches his ideal condition, he will return to Mr Debman. We have supported Mr Debman intensively in recent months to try to reduce Peter's weight, and we will continue to support him in every way we can.
"Maintaining the health and welfare of our dogs is absolutely paramount. Excess weight can increase the risk of health problems and ultimately jeopardise the success of a life-changing partnership, which we do everything we can to avoid."
