By Paige Duane
At 23 years old, an Ohio born Chihuahua, Spike, has been named the oldest living dog by Guinness book of records, beating the former record holder Gino Wolf by a little over a year. He was officially certified on December 7, 2022.
According to Spike’s owner, the dog came from humble beginnings. Found by present owner Rita Kimball in a grocery store parking lot, the dog had been abandoned for nearly three days, surviving on scraps from the store’s employees.
“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 officials.
Deciding to bring the dog back home to her farm, Kimball noticed that Spike instantly settled into her car.
“Spike jumped right in and sat on the seat, as if he knew where we were going. It was meant to be,” Kimball revealed.
According to a statement delivered by Guinness World Records, 12.9 pound Spike had “survived multiple attacks” from other animals and had “come back stronger each time”. Kimball cites a “solid routine”, “a healthy diet, room to roam, daily exercise, and unlimited love and attention” as the reason for her pet’s longevity.
Currently, Spike is enjoying his newfound record holder status alongside his family on the farm. “Now that he is a record holder, they see him as a celebrity,” Kimball said.
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