UK’s ‘oldest dog’ still loving life at 22 – as owner reveals secret to pooch’s longevity
A dog owner believes her beloved 22-year-old pet Staffy could be Britain’s oldest dog. Linzi McLean, 29, was given Staffy Sasha as a gift from her granddad after the dog was found as a stray 19 years ago. In 2005, vets said the dumped pup was around three years old.
Linzi, from Chorley, in Lancashire, said: “He was on the bus on the way home and some girls had found her, she was a stray and she jumped up on to my granddad’s knee. They were just going to take her to the RSPCA because they’d found her, so my granddad thought he’d give her a chance.”
Sasha and Linzi (Image: Linzi McClean / SWNS)
“If she was an aggressive dog or a badly behaved dog or something, it may have been different.”
School-aged Linzi was elated to receive the dog, who she says is now “pretty much part of her”.
She added: “She’s the most loyal dog I’ve ever known, she’s very attached to me.
“I think the main thing that’s kept her going all this time is all the love and care.
“You give her so much love they want to stay with you all the time, they’re not going to want to leave you.”
The elderly pooch celebrated her 22nd birthday in November – 19 years after she was found.
