World's oldest dog, Pebbles, dies aged 22

Prepare your tissues ladies and gentlemen, because this story will have you bawling your eyes out - the world's oldest dog has sadly died at the age of 22.

Pebbles, a Toy Fox Terrier who held the Guinness World Record for the world's oldest dog, has died just five months shy of her 23rd birthday. Per Barron's, the little Terrier was born on March 28, 2000, in Long Island, New York.

Despite being born close to the Big Apple, Pebbles spent much of her life in South Carolina and was mother to 32 puppies during her lifetime with her partner, Rocky, who died in 2016.

The Guinness World Records team announced the tragic news on Wednesday (October 5), writing: "On Monday, 3 October 2022 at 8:16 AM EST, Pebbles peacefully passed away from natural causes at her home in Taylors, South Carolina, USA with her owners Bobby and Julie Gregory by her side."

Via Instagram, Bobby and Julie wrote of Pebbles' passing, stating: "She was a once in a lifetime companion and it was our honor to have had the blessing to have had her as a pet and a family member."

The touching statement continued: "She spent her days enjoying country music and being loved. She enjoyed trying new foods, she was pampered, and most of all she was loved. It has been said, she has given us more than we have ever given her, and no statement could be truer. She impacted everyone she encountered. Pebbles was not just another dog; she had her own way about her, and her own personality."

"There was never anyone who met Pebbles that didn’t love her. She will be deeply missed," the statement ended.

Pebbles had only recently been crowned the world's oldest dog in May, after Bobby and Julie learned she was older than the former record holder, TobyKeith, a 21-year-old Chihuahua.

"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 previously said of the discovery, per The Guardian. "When I saw TobyKeith's story all over the news, I applied," she added.

The couple recalled at the time that they had initially wanted a larger dog, however, Julie revealed: "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."

I'm not crying, you are! Rest in peace, Pebbles.

Featured image credit: Abaca Press / Alamy