World's oldest dog needs jumper and goggles

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Chanel, the world's oldest dog, needs a jumper and goggles to go outside.

 

 

 

 

Last Updated: 12:25PM GMT 23 Feb 2009

 

The World's Oldest Living Dog, Chanel with owner Denice Shaughnessy Photo: BARRY BLAND/BARCROFT MEDIA

The blonde wire-haired daschund, is 20 years old, or 102 in dog years.

Denice Shaughnessy, a retired Army veteran who now works as a school secretary adopted Chanel in 1988.

"She takes things very easy these days," said Denice, who lives in Port Jefferson Station, New York.

"While I go to work she sleeps all day until I come home and then when I get home she is like a ball of fire.

"She walks about the house looking in every closet until about 10 o'clock. But she has very senior moments like any old person.

"Sometimes I will find her walking around at night and I have to give her a little snack and then she goes back to bed."

Despite her good health, Chanel has cataract problems which means she has to wear special goggles whenever she leaves the house.

"She has to wear the goggles because she has cataracts and is very sensitive to the light," says Denice who cares for Chanel with her husband Karl, a 44-year-old policeman.

"Chanel also has to wear a sweater because the older that she gets you notice the temperature change more and during the summer time she wears a T-shirt.

"Right now she eats a special diet dog food. I boil her chicken every day and then I cut it up and put it on her dog food but she has been eating table food her whole life."

Chanel replaced Labrador cross, Bella, as the world's oldest dog, who died at her Lincolnshire home in September last year.

Chanel's current veterinarian, Dr. Philip Zangara from the Roosevelt Animal Hospital in Port Jefferson Station says: "She is an old dog and an incredible dog. It's amazing she can still walk."