While we would never advocate obesity, being abnormally rotund proved to be a life-saver recently for one lucky canine companion.

Jiffy, a 120-pound border collie, nearly froze to death in his hometown in Wisconsin but was saved by excess layers of fat, which kept him warm overnight while he braved single-digit temperatures. It was so cold that the poor guy had to have warm water poured over him to unstick him from the sidewalk. Animal shelter officials admitted that not many pets can survive those types of conditions without extra pounds.

This isn't to say you should let you dog get fat -- you could face jail time if you do. Here's a better suggestion: Let the dog inside if it's well below freezing outside. I, for one, sure hope the Wisconsin authorities are looking into why poor Jiffy was left outside.

(via Calorie Lab)