Is Bella the oldest dog in the world?

A Derbyshire couple are trying to prove their pet dog Bella is the odest dog in the world.

Bella's owner David Richardson, 76, said he bought the Labrador cross from the RSPCA 26 years ago when she was ‘at least three years old’. This would make Bella's age of 29 more than 200 in canine years. If the formula of one human year equalling 7 in canine years were applied.

But the RSPCA said it does not have any records for Bella and Guinness World Records said without the appropriate paperwork the claim could not be proved.

Mr Richardson said he thought Bella might be the oldest dog in England, but was shocked to realise that she might be the oldest in the world.

His partner Daisy Cooper said Bella was showing signs of her age, but still goes for a walk in the park. She eats little as she has only two teeth left, but loves to suck on sweets.
Mr Richardson said when he went to the RSPCA to adopt a dog he was not allowed to have a GSD because he was 50 years old. ‘My choice was between Bella and another dog. She seemed friendlier so I chose Bella,’ he said.

Gareth Deaves, records manager from Guinness World Records, said: ‘Unless we can find some really clear evidence from the RSPCA we cannot substantiate the claim.’

According to Mr Deaves, the most recent record for the oldest dog was held by Butch, a 28-year-old from America who died in 2003. The oldest ever dog was Bluey, a sheepdog from Australia, who lived to 29.