World’s oldest dog dies at age 26

TOKYO (AP) ― The world’s oldest dog according to Guinness World Records has died at the age of 26 years and eight months.

Pusuke, a fluffy tan Shiba mix, died Monday after suddenly falling ill and refusing to eat, owner Yumiko Shinohara told reporters at her home in Sakura, a city outside Tokyo.

“I would just like to thank him for staying alive so long,” Shinohara told TV network FNN. The report said Pusuke’s lifespan would have been the equivalent of about 125 years for a human.

According to Guinness, the dog was born April 1, 1985. Pusuke was recognized as the world’s oldest living dog last December.

The Guinness record for canine longevity is 29 years, set by Bluey, an Australian cattle dog who died in 1939.