NEW YORK – A wire-haired dachshund that held the record as the world's oldest dog and celebrated its last birthday with a party at a dog hotel and spa has died at age 21 — or 147 in dog years.
The dog, named Chanel, died Friday of natural causes at her owners' home in suburban Port Jefferson Station, on Long Island.
Chanel, as stylish as her legendary namesake, wore tinted goggles for her cataracts in her later years and favored sweaters because she was sensitive to the cold, owners Denice and Karl Shaughnessy said Monday.
The playful dachshund was only 6 weeks old when Denice Shaughnessy, then serving with the U.S. Army, adopted her from a shelter in Newport News, Va.
Along with her owner, Chanel spent nine years on assignment in Germany, where she became adept at stealing sticks of butter from kitchen countertops and hiding them in sofa cushions in the living room, Shaughnessy said. She also liked chocolate, usually considered toxic to dogs, Shaughnessy said.
"She once ate an entire bag of Reese's peanut butter cups, and, you see, she lived to be 21, so go figure," Shaughnessy added.
Karl Shaughnessy nominated Chanel for the title of world's oldest dog after noticing the Guinness World Records book had no record.
Guinness World Records officials presented Chanel with a certificate as the world's oldest dog at a Manhattan birthday bash hosted by a private pet food company in May.
Chanel loved the party, especially the cake, which had a peanut butter flavor and had been made for dogs, Denice Shaughnessy said.
Chanel exercised daily and ate home-cooked chicken with her dog food, but good care wasn't entirely responsible for her long life, said her owners, who attributed God.
"Dogs are God's angels sent here to look out for us," Denice Shaughnessy said.
A dog from New Iberia, La., named Max, is vying for the record of world's oldest dog. Owner Janelle Derouen said Max marked his 26th birthday on Aug. 9. She said Guinness World Records officials were reviewing documents to authenticate his age; a Guinness World Records official in London didn't immediately answer an e-mail from The Associated Press requesting confirmation of that.
When asked the secret to her dog's long life, Derouen said she was shocked he's still with her.
"I have five kids, and all my kids are grown and gone," she said. "Now my grandkids are playing with this dog."
Best friends they may be, but are man and dog so entwined that they tend to take after one another in appearance?
It is one of those eternal, quirky questions, at least for dog owners. But only recently have scientists taken a close look in actual studies.
In 2004, researchers in San Diego found that subjects in a study were able to correctly match pictures of dog owners with their pets more often than not, but only when the dogs were purebreds. Simple traits like hair and size played a smaller role than things like facial expressions.
Read more at: NY TIMES
Nurtured Pets™ Participates in Chicago’s first annual Dog Day on the Green
New Philadelphia, Ohio – (July 27, 2009) An abundance of tails will be wagging to beat the band at the inaugural launch of Chicago’s Dog Day on the Green. This eco-friendly, fun family festival for dog owners and dog lovers of all ages will take place near Soldier Field at
1410 S. Museum Campus Drive on Sunday, August 2, 2009.
A full day of exciting activities is scheduled for both owners and pets, from the Fido Fashion Show to the Doggy Olympics to the “Hoop and Hurdles” agility test. But just in case a scrape, minor bruise or bee sting should happen to a participating pet, there will also be plenty of Anti-Lick Strip Prevent™ pet bandages on hand, courtesy of Nurtured Pets.
These unique, patent-pending pet bandages are clinically proven to discourage pets from obsessive licking, biting and chewing – behaviors that can lead to more serious conditions such as hot spots or lick granulomas. They’re also a great alternative to the E-collar for post-surgical sites.
On the outside, each bandage is constructed with all-natural, active outfacing ingredients, such as cayenne pepper, clove oil and oregano, that deter pets from bothering problem spots so they have a chance to heal. A peel-and-stick, medical-grade adhesive on the opposite side can be applied directly to hair or skin.
Anti-Lick Strip Prevent pet bandages can be used as a protective covering to help promote healing, or applied at the first sign of biting or licking. So a product like this belongs in every pet parent’s first aid kit. And pet parents will be glad to know that Anti-Lick Strip Prevent products are veterinarian-approved and manufactured in the United States.
According to Cindy Miller, Marketing Director at Nurtured Pets, “we’re thrilled to be charter exhibitors at this festive family event.” To check out these revolutionary bandages in person, be sure to visit the Nurtured Pets booth during Dog Day on the Green. Anti-Lick Strip samples will handed out in small, medium and large sizes. For more information or to find a retailer near you, visit www.nurturedpets.com.
The event had a lot of helo from vlounteers all over the county.
Some of the attendees taking a break from all the action.
One of them many dogs at the event starting a new fashion trend.