SEE IT: Guinness World Records crowns oldest living dog at 23 years
Jenny Goldsberry
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A chihuahua from Ohio has been dubbed the oldest living dog at 23 years old.
Guinness World Records announced Thursday that the record went to Spike, a dog found by its current owners in a grocery store parking lot. Spike was already 10 years old when Rita Kimball and her family adopted him, and he has since enjoyed an even longer, happier life.
“He had been shaved up his back, had blood stains around his neck from a chain or rope, and looked pretty rough,” Kimball reported to Guinness World Records. “The clerk in the grocery told us he had been there for three days, and they were feeding him scraps.”
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Spike has since enjoyed the Kimballs’ farm life, barking at livestock, going on daily strolls across the property, and enjoying weekly baths. The family was unaware Spike had beaten the world record until the previous record-holder was announced on an episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
“I believe Spike is still here because after having such a terrible life at first, he makes the best of each day,” Kimball suggested.
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The average lifespan of a dog is anywhere between 10 and 13 years, according to the American Kennel Club, with chihuahuas averaging between 15 and 17 years.