Recently, Bully, the Chihuahua turned 23. While other young adults his age are finishing up college and considering their futures, Bully is content to be an elder (measured in human years) who enjoys taking naps and munching snacks.
Bully’s present owners threw him a birthday party that no one will ever forget, complete with large balloons, a cake decorated in the shape of a bone that said “Happy Birthday,” and plenty of celebratory naps to top it all off.
The Mr. Mo Project, a private senior dog rescue run by Chris Hughes and his wife Mariesa, has been caring for the little pup. The super senior is one of four senior dogs who are 20 years of age or older.
Let’s examine Bully’s biography. Bully, who was born on April 5, 1999, has had a great life and would probably agree that the early 2000s were a blast. He was raised by a devoted family, delighted in the company of his people, played outside, went for runs in the neighborhood park, and made a lot of friends. Bully got a new home with Chris and Mariesa when his elderly owner was no longer able to take care of him.
Bully is a “large dog in a little dog’s body,” as his previous owner once described him to The Dodo. Chris soon observed that Bully, despite his advanced age, had not altered in the slightest from the pup he previously was.
Bully is described as being “feisty, naughty, kind, independent, gentle, quiet, and he has an old man bark,” but even at the age of 23, he won’t think twice about shoving the other Chihuahuas living in the house around.
Bully’s age is catching up to him despite his boisterous demeanor. According to Chris, he requires more sleep than the average puppy because “he will fall asleep absolutely anywhere, sometimes on the middle of the floor in the kitchen, on a potty pad, or on the biggest, most comfortable bed in the corner.” As a result, the best birthday present they could give the dog was a good night’s sleep as well as a soft crumbly biscuit for the senior to enjoy.
In an Instagram post, the family expressed their affection for Bully and his antics, saying, “When he came to us, I, honestly, didn’t want to add another dog to our pack, especially a 21-year-old, unmodified dog, and a chihuahua at that. But guess what? Bully offers us so much joy that I can’t really fathom my life without him anymore, therefore the cosmos must have known we needed him.
Bully is loved by others besides his family as well, though. Aside from receiving 10,000 likes, the birthday post received thousands of good wishes for the dog. Donations and presents began to arrive, as well as a surprise gift box from Barkbox, a company that specializes in monthly subscriptions of toys, treats, and chews for your dog.
Bully woke up cheerful after his nap today when his family informed him that so many people had wished him a happy 23rd birthday, the family posted on Instagram. Many thanks for taking our elderly father into consideration.
Not just Bully, but other dogs also receive birthday celebrations. The family makes sure that every puppy is honored, whether it is for completing chemotherapy, being adopted, Christmas, or any other special occasion. We strive to appreciate all the wonderful things that occur in our home, as Chris put it, “since there are so many not-so-wonderful things that occur very frequently.”
The goal of the rescue has always been to prevent older pets from being put to sleep or, worse, residing in shelters across the country: “We feel that senior dogs deserve homes too! They’re also loving ones. Their senior canine Mr. Mo, who served as the foundation for the entire nonprofit, is remembered by the moniker.
Since most dog-to-human age calculators tend to stop at 20, it is uncertain whether the math relating to the dog to human years is entirely accurate. Even though Chihuahuas are known for having some of the longest lifespans among breeds of puppies, 23 is still remarkable. But why do smaller dogs typically live longer than their larger counterparts and siblings?
Dogs typically live for 10 to 13 years, with their lifespan decreasing as they get older. This makes choosing a puppy very important because you are practically committing to spending a certain period of time with them.
According to Professor Mark Elgar of the University of Melbourne’s School of Biosciences, studies comparing size and age-related mortality in dogs reveal that larger canines age noticeably more quickly than smaller dogs, which causes them to pass away earlier.
The physiological functions of a larger dog may be under more stress due to its size, which causes it to wear out more quickly: “Modern vehicles typically function effectively for eight to nine years before wear and tear takes hold and they begin to break down. The rate at which they degrade varies depending on the manufacturer. Dogs experience the same thing.
The lifestyle has an impact on the morbidity rate in dogs just like it does in humans. Here are a few of PetMD’s suggestions for anyone who wants their cherished pets to live as long as possible from their vast and helpful list.
Keep your pet’s weight increase under control. A veterinarian in Chesapeake, Virginia named Dr. Shari Brown warns that allowing your dog to gain too much weight will lower both the quantity and quality of his life. Save your table leftovers instead of throwing them in your dog’s wastebasket.
Dental maintenance and yearly exams are essential since minor problems can soon become major ones. Encourage exercise, but don’t overdo it because every breed has varied exercise needs. Additionally, socialize your dogs because a lack of affection, playtime and human contact can result in sadness.
Finally, neuter or spay your dogs. The technique may be difficult and even dangerous in some circumstances, but the advantages far outweigh the drawbacks. In addition to the behavioral problems you can observe in intact dogs, Dr. Mahaney claims that “spaying and neutering is still the greatest strategy to assure minimizing the risk of various malignancies.”
So let’s celebrate their life and the love they provide us by taking good care of our furry little buddies. We wish to Bully a belated happy birthday and think he’s having the time of his life with canine and human companions alike. Bully might end up being listed in The Guinness World Records as the oldest dog, but that is yet to be determined.
I’ll put a link here if you want to give to the Mr. Mo Project.
Image credits: mrmoproject
