A sweet senior rescue dog has become the oldest golden retriever on record after celebrating her 20th birthday, far outliving the 10- to 12-year life expectancy for her breed.
August, or Augie, celebrated with a birthday banner to mark the occasion, a dog-friendly carrot cake, and snuggles with her adopted golden retriever siblings, Sherman, Belle, and Bruce.
“They are wonderful volunteers,” GoldHeart said of the couple to The Epoch Times, “supporting rescue for many years!”
Augie was placed in two homes that didn’t work out before ending up in her forever home with the Hetterscheidts. Jennifer and Steve knew that senior dogs have a harder time finding permanent homes than younger pups, but Augie stole their hearts.
The couple were pleasantly surprised by Augie’s adventurous spirit, despite her advanced age, and the family enjoyed many RVing trips across the United States together. Augie shares her home with her three canine companions, plus some cats, and one of her favorite pastimes is playing fetch in the pool.
Jennifer explained that while the 20-year-old pooch is a little shaky when she stands up, she still moves around with ease and enjoys a daily stroll around the couple’s backyard. A mixture of wet and dry dog food plus supplements for her kidneys and joints help alleviate her minor health ailments.
They also display a huge lust for life when not on duty and are known to be very affectionate. The breed often maintains a puppy-like nature long into adulthood.
Steve attributes Augie’s impressive longevity to “good genes,” adding that she has been a “great addition to the family and she just keeps chugging along.”
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