We may never know if he was the oldest dog in the world, but he sure was loved and appreciated.
Dog owner Harry Williams Jr. had to put his buddy, Smokey, to sleep May 31. When Smokey’s quality of life took a turn for the worse, Williams said he had no choice but to put him down.
Still, there’s reason to rejoice.
Smokey lived to be 24 years old — that’s 168 in human years.
Williams scooped the Labrador-Chow-Rhodesian Ridgeback mutt off the side of the highway back in 1987 in rural North Carolina. Williams said he tried to give the dog away but no one would take him.
Little did he know they’d be stuck together for more than two decades.
There’s a chance Smokey could be the oldest living dog, but because he was a stray, there is no birth certificate to back up his age. The Guinness Book of World Records requires such proof.
The oldest dog in history lived to be 29.
Story by Elaine Furst for Dog Files
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I know you loved your dog, Smokey, he reminded me of my dog named Barron. My Barron lived to be 15 1/2 years old. I truely still miss him and have his ashes on my mantle. I really believe that one day we will be reunited with our animals, and that they have all gone to heaven and are in no more pain and they will be waiting for us. I am so glad you went back & got him, and I know in my heart he loved you as much as you loved him.
Glad you had him for 29 years! So hard losing a best loyal friend!
omg he had a good home and owner who loved him and took good care of him .and last thing this dog seen before he went to sleep the loving eyes of his devoted owner …life was good for this dog iwish this for evry dog on earth,
Rest in Peace dear Smoky. I know you have a wonderful life full of love, and today you are running free & without pain.
Smokey, you were such a fortunate puppy to find such a loving, forever home with a wonderful human. God Bless you and RIP. I know you are at the Rainbow Bridge running with all the other puppies there, 8 of them are mine, and one day you will be reunited with your human.
I had a dog that lived for 14 years and im 12 so i have had her all my life we recently lost her last month in may 🙁 but she had arthritus and we loved her and took care of her and in return she would kill any threat to us like snakes or lizards or birds that tried to make homes in places we didnt want them too but now like Ddeb said she is running free without pain
7 yrs of human life for every year of a dogs,is a MYTH,look it up!