Pets News

Uncle Chichi, unofficially the world's oldest dog, has died at (around) the age of 25 after a long bout with cancer, according to the New York Times.

We say "unofficially" and "around" because Uncle Chichi's exact age is uncertain. What is certain is that Uncle Chichi, a toy poodle, was adopted in the late 1980s and was somewhere around 25 years old--give or a take a year--which is a remarkably advanced age for a dog no matter how you slice it. For a dog of Uncle Chichi's size, that's the equivalent of about 120 human years.

Uncle Chichi had been suffering for age-related health problems for many years, but he soldiered on through the resulting blindness and deafness to reach an age that very, very few other dogs achieve. And of course, through it all he remained a source of joy to his owners, Frank Pavich and Janet Puhalovic of New York.

"That little 10-pound guy fills up not just your apartment, but your life," said Pavich.

Uncle Chichi lived not only a long life, but a full one. Pavich, a television producer, brought his dog with him on trips all over the world, including France, Italy, and Germany. In his later years, Uncle Chichi's notable age even earned him an appearance on "Good Morning America."

Rest in peace, Uncle Chichi. You earned it.

Which species was Baby New Year this year? Oh what, you thought BNY could only be human? Please! The title is up for grabs, and whichever species births its offspring first when the clock strikes 12:00 is the winner.

So who took it in 2012? Leopard tortoises!

Zooborns reports that the Prague Zoo in Czech Republic welcomed a hatching of six baby leopard tortoises right at the balldrop this year. Technically, three of the tortoises were born before the stroke of midnight and three after, but it doesn't seem fair not to count them all, and besides, we can't tell them apart anyway.

These fellas may be teeny tiny as newborns, but that won't last. Leopard tortoises are the fourth-largest tortoises in the world. These little guys will grow to be over two feet long and about 120 pounds. And this is only the first of many New Year's celebrations for these soon-to-be behemoths, because leopard tortoises have a typical lifespan of 80 to 100 years! So we wish them (and you) a happy new year and many more to come.

Erica Daniel, a Florida woman who fosters dogs that need extra care, saved a pit-bull puppy from the trash and nursed it back to health from a debilitating, life-threatening medical condition.

11-week-old Harper was born with a condition called pectus excavatum, more commonly know as "swimmer puppy disorder," according to NBC's "Today." Puppies afflicted with the disorder lie flat on their chests with their arms splayed out, resembling a swimmer in mid-stroke. Most puppies with pectus excavatum don't survive, and Harper herself came very close to being put down before Daniel stepped in.

Daniel had not originally intended to keep Harper alive, but simply to give the puppy one day of love and affection before she had to be euthanized. "I had to show her what it was like to be loved," Daniel said. But as she spent the day with Harper and massaged the puppy's limbs, the deformed dog began to respond and quickly show signs of improvement.

Instead of putting Harper down, Daniel had a vet perform a closer inspection, only to find that the pup was indeed far healthier than first thought. No longer doomed, Harper has received massage therapy and hydrotherapy. Now, only 11 weeks later, she's walking on her own four feet.

"She's a walking miracle," says Bev McCartt, Harper's physical therapist. "She's a real testament to a dog's determination to get up and just go."

If you're like me, you spent countless hours with your friends in junior high poring over the Guinness Book of World Records. Remember the guy with the world's longest fingernails? Or the world's heaviest twins, sitting on their motorcycles? So weird.

Recapture that old magic with the "Guinness World Records 2012 Edition." There's plenty of weird and gnarly stuff to entertain you, and if you're an animal lover (Why would you be here if you're not?), you'll get a special kick out of the great pet records too.

Harbor is an 8-year-old purebred black and tan coonhound from Colorado whom you'll find in this latest edition of the Guinness book. What exactly did Harbor do to earn a place among Guinness's world-record holders? Just look at the photo! At 12.25 inches and 13.5 inches, Harbor's dog ears are the longest in the world!

According to Harbor's owner, Jennifer Wert, Harbor's ears bring him almost constant attention from strangers, and he's often asked to stop for photos. "Most days I forget how oddly long his ears are," Wert says. "He's a phenomenon in the world and he creates smiles wherever we go."

Interestingly, Harbor's ears aren't designed for super hearing, but for super smelling. When Harbor walks about, his enormous ears flap around in a way that sweeps scents toward his nose for enhanced olfactory detection.

To see Harbor and other record-breaking animals, check out Guinness World Records 2012, available in the U.S. on September 15 for the suggested retail price of $28.95. The 2012 eBook version will launch on November 28.

Superstition! It's a big part of sports. Athletes of all stripes are superstitious. Maybe you're a pitcher who doesn't talk about a no-hitter during a no-hitter. Maybe you're a goalie who doesn't shave his beard or change his socks during the playoffs. Maybe you're Wade Boggs, and had so many superstitions that it was bananas. Or maybe you're Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic, and you just want your best friend around when you play in the top tennis tournaments in the world.

Djokovic suffered a major bummer last month at Wimbledon when his poodle, Pierre, was denied entry to the UK by those dog-hating Brits. The tennis star had to play without his pooch by his side. Outrage! Luckily, now it's US Open time, and if there's one thing that's true about America, it's that we love our pets. That's probably why Djokovic was seen with Pierre last week in New Jersey, according to the New York Post. This is America, Jack. We're not about to tell the world's No. 1 tennis pro that he can't bring his companion animal with him across our borders. All dogs are welcome here! USA! USA!