The world's oldest dog Chanel will be missed. Photo: Meredith Daniels, Newsday/MCT
The celebrated dog -- who appeared on The Today Show on her 21st birthday this past May -- began life humbly as a puppy at a Virginia shelter. According to MSNBC, Denice Shaughnessy of Port Jefferson Station, N.Y. -- then a single mother and Army veteran -- spotted the wire-haired dachshund mix pup and adopted her for $25.
As she aged, Chanel's brown coat turned white and she developed cataracts. Her favorite meal was boiled chicken and brown rice. When venturing outdoors, she wore bright sweaters to protect her from a chill and stylish red goggle sunglasses to shield her eyes.
Though she got older, Chanel never lost her feisty streak. "She's independent. If she didn't want to do something, she had a look she would give, and she usually got her way," Shaughnessy told the New York Post in an earlier interview.
In recent weeks, Chanel's title of World's Oldest Dog was challenged by a 26 year-old mixed breed dog in Louisiana named Max. It seems Max is a shoo-in now, but the world will never forget Chanel.
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Our Fox Terrier is 18 years and 9 months. Other than having some teeth pulled, fading of color and getting lazy, he still has spirit. Dogs are a lot better than some humans. It may not sound Christian but it's the truth as far as I;m concerned.
Amen! Some dogs are a lot better!!!!
Our one Tibetan Mastiff will be 15 this December 4....bless her beautiful heart! She has the strength of the Himalayas in her spirit and soul!!
Her daughter turns 14 years old Jan. 2010
My mother in law had 4 pallmeranians (excuse the spelling) that all lived to be about 23-24 years old each when they died about 8 years ago.
I'm sure if you have a dog over 18+ years you or it's vet would notify SOMEONE who keeps tabs on all this stuff. You know, the oldest person, plant, bird, fish, etc....Your question might of read better if you asked now how, but who cares?!?!
That's NOT the oldest dog! We went to Kodiak, Alaska last summer 2008. We were driving around and stopped at a restaurant/bar/hotel. The owner's dog was 21 years old or older. He had the dog before his son was born and his son wasn't 21 yet.It won't take much to check it out since Kodiak is so small.It was the hotel/restaurant on the way to Chiniak.About 25 miles out of Kodiak.It was the only place on the left hand side of the road from Kodiak.It was on a big bay.Check it out/
The dog is the worlds oldest according to GWBR.
So Kodiak AL don't count.....:-@
It's always sad when our pets pass away. God Bless, Chanel!
Thank you for such a nice comment, who cares how old he was. My spouse hand engraves pet memorials. People from all over the country will e-mail him and we hear the stories of how they have died, some will keep the small stone on a easil or actually put it on the site where the dog was buried. 25 percent of all proceeds go to the Best Friends charity and refuge in Knab Utah in Angel Canyon where every animal can heal and be adoopted if made whole again.
God Bless You
Wow 21!?! Sounds like she was a lovely dog. At least she lived a long, happy life and her owners took amazing care of her.
Oldest at 21 ??? We have an American Eskimo with papers that is 22 years young as of 6/24/09 Born on 6/24/1987 No joke peoples
I had an Eskie that lived to almost 18years. I now have two that are eight years old and am hoping for at least 10 more years.
Hey, man, contact Guinness and get that dog immortalized!
bless you chanel and your caring peeps
if there were more folks like you
animal lovers would not lose sleep
RODNEY,BY KNOWING WHEN IT WAS BORN AND KEEPING RECORDS,.....HOW WOULD YOU THINK?
I would guess they only consider the ones they know about, and can be verified.
It really doesn't matter if "whoever" is saying she is the "oldest dog".
The only thing that matters is that she lived a wonderful life and had a wonderful family that took care of her. We need more positive people in this world instead of feeding on the negative...
RIP Chanel.
I have to agree completely with this!
I agree completely with the only thing that matters being that she lived a long and happy life. My heart will always belong to our furry four-legged friends,
My dog, Pete was born in 1987 in Pasadena, Texas. I brought him to Florida in 1998. He's now 22 years old this August. He still eats all of his dinner and runs around to finish my other two dog's food. He's in good health and chases the garbage truck from one end of the fence to the other. He's half Pit Bull and half Black Lab. He can still jump up in HIS recliner and will protect me at all times.
Thank you for this opportunity to tell you about my hero. He makes me sad when he at times will go and lay across his Mother's grave.