Amazingly, this isn't an American invention, but a British one. I guess that makes sense, as Brits are probably less likely to walk their dogs considering it's raining there about 362 days out of the year, but wouldn't a doggie treadmill be a more humane gift? 

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The dogs themselves can supposedly activate this thing by pressing a button, then getting in the basket and taking the lift up to the second floor. When I first saw this thing, it appeared as though it would be more suited towards sick or lame dogs than it would fat ones, but I guess now the "fat dog" market is much more robust than the sick dog market.

Seriously, though. They couldn't have picked a happier fat dog than this bulldog? I know that bulldogs never really look happy and are decidedly English, but still...look at him. It looks like he's about to take the thing up to doggie heaven, which is located on the second floor of this house. 

The device will run you about $8,000 bucks, which is about eight times what a doggie day care facility would run you to get your pooch back in shape. Oh well. Just imagine that there's a really nice farm on the second floor and you can fool yourself into thinking this isn't the most upsetting thing you'll see this week. 

(via Geekologie)