World’s oldest dog, Pebbles, dies at 22
Pebbles, who held the title of the world’s oldest living dog, has died. She was 22.
The 4-pound toy fox terrier died Monday from natural causes – months away from her 23rd birthday, according to Guinness World Records. Pebbles spent her last moments in her South Carolina home, beside owners Bobby and Julie Gregory.
“She was a once in a lifetime companion, and it was our honor to have had the blessing to have had her as a pet, and family member,” Julie Gregory wrote in a news release.
Pebbles was born March 28, 2000, in New York. Guinness World Records confirmed the pup was the world’s oldest in May.
After seeing headlines about TobyKeith, a 21-year-old chihuahua from Florida who was named the world’s oldest living dog, the Gregorys realized that Pebbles was older and applied for the record.
TobyKeith was born on Jan. 9, 2001, which makes him more than eight months younger than Pebbles.
In 2000, the family was looking for a larger breed of dog to adopt when they found Pebbles.
“She was jumping and barking so much at Bobby that he had no choice but to pick her up and check her out,” Julie told Guinness. “It was instant love the second the two met.”
The couple said Pebbles was the queen of their home ever since.
Pebbles lived a long life full of love, her family said – noting she spent her days listening to country music, sleeping in until 5 p.m. and trying new foods. According to Guinness, Pebbles’ veterinarian placed her on a cat food diet for the last 10 years of her life, but she got to occasionally indulge – like when she got a stack of ribs for her 22nd birthday.
“She spent her days enjoying country music and being loved,” Julie Gregory wrote. Pebbles had 32 puppies in her lifetime with her partner, Rocky, the news release said. Rocky died in 2016, but the two “shared many years of companionship.”
“She impacted everyone she encountered,” Julie Gregory wrote. “There was never anyone who met Pebbles that didn’t love her. She will be deeply missed.”