Golden retriever celebrates birthday to break breed's age record
August the golden retriever has just turned 20, twice as long as her breed is usually expected to live.
Augie, as she is affectionately known, celebrated her record-breaking birthday with help from the Gold Heart Golden Retrievers Rescue who believe she is the oldest of her breed.
“There are many accounts of 17 or 18-year-old goldens, and even a few stories about 19-year-old goldens, but Augie is the first golden retriever to ever reach the big two-oh,” the blog dedicated to Augie reads.
She may be 20 in dog years but according to the Pedigree age calculator, that translates to 145-years-old in human years.
Augie was born on April 24, 2000 and after being rehomed twice, she finally found her fur-ever home when she was 14-years-old with Jennifer and Steve Hetterscheidt from Oakland, Tennessee.
"They figured that most people wouldn’t want such an elderly golden, but they had no idea of the upcoming journey they would be on with Augie," the blog post reads.
The couple adore the breed and have taken Augie on adventures in their RV around the US.
Ms Hetterscheidt said Augie is a little shaky when she first gets up from a nap but she still loves walks around the yard and isn’t letting her old age stop her from getting lots of attention and pats.
Apart from some minor health issues, the blog said Augie is looking good for her 20 years.
“Since she was diagnosed with some kidney issues when she was 14, and takes some supplements for her kidneys and joints.
“She also gets SQ fluids twice a week, which has helped her perk up quite a bit.”
For her special day, Augie ate a dog-friendly carrot cake and spent some quality time with her golden retriever siblings, Sherman, Belle, and Bruce posing for a family portrait.
"At 20 years old, she’s just about doubled the expected lifespan for golden retrievers, and she’s still kicking," the rescue wrote.
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