Augie, a 21-year-old golden retriever, became the world’s oldest Golden Retriever when he recently celebrated his 21st birthday. Despite the difficult times we’ve had to endure, Augie’s 21st birthday brought us joy and delight.
This breed of dog typically has a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years, but Augie nearly doubled that figure and stole our hearts.
The Goldheart Golden Retrievers Rescue animal sanctuary, based in Tennessee, USA, spread the good news of Augie’s story.
Once Augie turned 21, the kind members of the organization offered blood and fire to find a nice home for the elderly dog, and they were successful.
Millions of people on social media around the world rejoiced as soon as the wonderful news was announced.
Augie’s 21st birthday was celebrated with a lot of pomp and pageantry as he became the oldest golden retriever in the world.
“At 21 years old, he has nearly doubled the average golden retriever lifetime and still has a lot of energy.” The rescue organization’s staff wrote, calling Augie “the world’s oldest golden retriever!”
Augie was born on April 24, 2000, and had lived in two other homes before finally settling down with his current owners.
Jennifer and Steve Hetterscheidt are a kind couple who adopted him when he was 14 years old, and they live in Oakland, California, USA.
“He has lived such a long life, in part, because of his excellent genetics. His physical condition is great,” Augie’s veterinarian added. “However, we credit his longevity to his caring mother, Jennifer, who has done an excellent job of caring for him and ensuring he has a comfortable home to live in.”
While there have been several reports of Goldens who are 17 or 18 years old, and even a few reports of Goldens that are 19, Augie’s story is truly inspiring. Blowing out 21 candles is a significant achievement for a dog like Augie.
After such a lavish celebration, Augie and his loving owners Jennifer and Steve were overjoyed and decided to celebrate in style by dressing him up with a beautiful and extremely stylish scarf that fit him perfectly.
In their RV, Jennifer and Steve drove the entire length of the United States with Augie, creating unforgettable memories along the way.
Adopting an elderly dog is an act of unconditional love, especially as elderly dogs are often overlooked as people prefer puppies. Augie lived a long and happy life, and his story inspired millions worldwide.
Unfortunately, after such a grand celebration, we received tragic news. In March 2021, Augie, the autumnal dog, requested permission to rest for all eternity, and at almost 22 years old, he passed away, leaving us all bereaved.
We will always remember Augie, and his story will continue to inspire us to celebrate life’s simple joys with those we love.
