An Abandoned Dog Found in a Parking Lot Turns Out To Be the World’s Oldest Dog

Not only was this ‘severely neglected’ chihuahua lucky enough to find himself a loving family, but he would also become a Guinness World Record holder down the line. 

Despite having a relatively hard life as a little chihuahua, Spike beat the odds and is currently living today as a happy and healthy 23-year-old with a loving family and an exciting daily life. 

She noted that he was looking severely neglected, and she wanted to help. Where most people would have likely called animal control to come to pick up a dog like Spike or done nothing at all, Rita felt that there was something special about this little chihuahua. 

Rita said it was as if Spike knew where they were going and that what would become their long-lasting relationship was meant to be. Spike wanted a home, and Rita wanted to provide. 

Of course, she knew she couldn’t simply take a random animal that she found wandering around in a parking lot without inquiring if it belonged to anyone nearby. 

According to the clerk in the grocery store, Spike had been wandering around the parking lot for about three days. He continued hanging out there because the employees at the grocery store were feeding him scraps. 

He had blood stains around his neck where a rope or chain had likely been, and most of the hair had been shaved off of his back. It was clear that whoever was taking care of Spike before had been doing a poor job at it, and Rita felt like she needed to intervene.

She decided to name him ‘Spike’ after the cartoon dog from the Looney Tunes series, a dog that was known for its larger size and aggressive disposition. For such a sweetheart like little Spike, it was certainly in irony. 

From the moment he arrived at their Ohio home, he became a beloved family member, making himself right at home with everyone in the household. 

He’ll often wake up around 7 am and spend time hanging out with his other animal friends, including a few horses, cows, and barn cats. Unlike his time spent abandoned many years ago, Spike has made several close friends with which he can enjoy each day. 

Even still, he enjoys doing dog things, such as running around the farm and chasing barn cats when he can muster up enough energy to do so. 

One of his favorite meals to have for dinner is braunschweiger with cheese. Sometimes, the family will even give him some chips to indulge in, and after such a rough life, he surely deserves to enjoy living it up at the Kimball residence. 

Spike will keep the family company, riding along on the tractor when someone needs to do fieldwork. He also enjoys spending time with the Kimball family when they cut wood. In many ways, he has become the Kimball family’s little helper. 

Even when he was given a low chance of survival by veterinarians, Spike mustered up the will to fight back. At only nine inches tall and just under 13 pounds, it’s easy to underestimate Spike. However, he has made it abundantly clear that he is a strong little chihuahua. 

A dog named Pebbles made it onto Jimmy Fallon, as Pebbles was the former title holder for the Guinness World Record of ‘oldest living dog.’ Even the Kimball family knew that Spike was older than Pebbles, so they decided to submit an application. 

It was especially exciting, as they knew how much heartbreak he had been through in his time on this Earth. The family wanted to make sure that they celebrated his longevity in the best way possible. 

If it wasn’t for the love and care that Rita and the Kimball family gave to Spike, he probably would have never made it to his old age. Now, he holds a pretty cool title. 

Obviously, Spike has no idea that he took the title of the oldest dog in the world, though so many people know who Spike is because of it. The family was blown away that he had lived this long as it is. 

The family believes that he recognizes the rewards he has now in his older years. They think that Spike is still here because of having to build resilience from his terrible life at first, though he now lives with his strength in a world of comfort and love. 

At that point, Gino was 22 years and 52 days old. He was also a chihuahua mix. 

While different authorities site varying average lifespans, the general consensus is that most Chihuahuas will live anywhere between 12 and 20 years. The fact that Spike was well outside this range showed that he was quite special and a statistical anomaly. 

One of these speculations is that because larger breeds age quicker and grow faster than smaller breeds, they are likely to experience abnormal cancer cell growth, which can wreak havoc on their immune systems. 

In their later years, these little dogs often suffer from obesity and dental problems. Some more serious issues include osteoarthritis, hypoglycemia, patellar luxation, hydrocephalus, collapsed tracheas, and general heart conditions, all of which can drastically shorten their lifespans. 

Implementing a number of care practices can ensure chihuahuas live long and happy lives.

Some of these steps include getting your puppy vaccinated, getting them a collar with an ID tag, keeping them on a leash when outdoors, feeding them nutritious foods, visiting the vet often, and making sure they get plenty of exercise. 

From the moment he showed up at their home, their priority was to take care of him and show him that he could enjoy his newfound life. It just so happens that their care and love meant longevity for Spike.