Pebbles, the world’s oldest dog, has died.
The 22-year old toy fox terrier from South Carolina died on Monday of natural causes, the dog’s owners said, via Instagram.
“She was a once in a lifetime companion and it was our honor to to have had the blessing to have had her as a pet and a family member,” the statement said.
Pebbles died five months shy of her 23rd birthday, the family said.
Pebbles was crowned the world’s oldest dog by Guinness World Records in May, after owners Bobby and Julie Gregory realized their pet was older than the previous official oldest dog, a 21-year-old chihuahua named TobyKeith.
“Bobby was sitting on the couch and friends and family started texting and calling about a story they saw about a 21-year-old dog getting the record,” Julie Gregory told Guinness World Records then.
“When I saw TobyKeith’s story all over the news, I applied” for the record.
Pebbles was born on 28 March 2000 and adopted by the Gregorys that same year. The couple were searching for a large-breed dog but, Julie Gregory said, “she was jumping and barking so much at Bobby that he had no choice but to pick her up and check her out. It was instant love the second the two met.”
Pebbles enjoyed listening to country music, the Gregorys said, favoring Conway Twitty and Dwight Yoakam. Pebbles also enjoyed trying new foods and being pampered, the family said.
With her partner, Rocky, who died in 2016, she gave birth to 32 puppies.
For her last birthday, the family gave Pebbles a bubble bath and plate of ribs.
“There was never anyone who met Pebbles that didn’t love her. She will be dearly missed,” the family said.
