Do you remember when you turned 23? Most people don’t because it’s not a particularly important birthday. However, for a dog to turn 23, that’s a huge milestone!
Bully the Chihuahua reached that milestone and became the oldest dog at the non-profit rescue. Of course, he got a nice birthday party with balloons, a bone-shaped, delicious treat, and a lot of naps.
Bully is currently living at a non-profit shelter where he’s looked after by Chris and Mariesa Hughes. The shelter is a private dog rescue for seniors and it’s called The Mr. Mo Project. Though there are a few other dogs over 20 at the shelter, Bully is officially the main super senior.
Bully the Chihuahua celebrated his big 23 with a treat and lots of naps
The charming dog came into the world on April 5, 1999, and spent 21 years with his first adoptive family
Bully was born on April 5, 1999, and he’s had a heck of a life. Soon after he was born, he was adopted by a loving family. He made a lot of friends, was always with his humans, and he loved to play outside. However, when his owner entered his senior years, he couldn’t take care of Bully anymore.
It was difficult to accept, but he found a good home for Bully with Chris and Mariesa. His previous owner describes Bully as a big do inside the body of a little dog. Chris quickly realized that was a fair description! Despite his age, Bully was still independent, feisty, gentle, sweet, and calm.
Unfortunately, Bully’s elderly owner could no longer provide good care, so he found a new home for the pup
The Hughes couple has a non-profit rescue where they look for safe and happy homes for senior dogs
Though Bully is a small boy, he has a big personality! However, old age catches up to us all and he’s no exception. For example, he sleeps more than younger dogs and it’s not uncommon for Bully to fall asleep anywhere. That’s why his 23rd birthday party consisted of a ton of naptime and a soft, crumbly biscuit.
It’s worth noting that the Hughes were a bit apprehensive at first about adding another dog to the mix. But soon enough, they fell in love with Bully’s antics and they realized he brought a lot of joy into their lives. Now they don’t know what they’d do without him!
But Bully wouldn’t be going to any other home because the Hughes immediately fell in love with him
Bully’s birthday post reached a lot of people and he received a lot of attention, donations, and gifts
The Hughes family is not the only one in love with Bully, though! His birthday post was seen by thousands of people and they all wished the pup a very happy birthday. A lot of people went beyond that and sent gifts and donations.
For example, Barkbox, a company that offers monthly subscriptions of treats, toys, and chews, sent Bully a lovely gift box. The Hughes were so grateful for all the birthday wishes people left on the post and for everything they sent to make Bully’s day a bit more special.
The Hughes make a habit of celebrating every occasion, so this isn’t the first or the last
The Mr. Mo Project specializes in senior dogs, so Bully isn’t the only one getting birthday parties. The Hughes celebrate each dog in any way they can! Not only birthdays, but also wins such as adoptions, holidays, completing medical treatments, and any occasion worth celebrating.
They do this because good things don’t happen as often for senior dogs, especially when they have health issues. The Mr. Mo Project carries the name of Mr. Mo, the family’s late senior dog, who is the inspiration behind the non-profit rescue.
The Hughes started the project to save senior dogs from shelters around the nation and to honor their late senior dog, Mr. Mo
It’s not common for dogs to reach 23 years old, so why do some dogs live longer?
Interestingly enough, Chihuahuas often have longer lifespans than other breeds. Even so, 23 years is incredible! On average, dogs live up to 10 or 13 years. Research has shown that larger dogs tend to die younger because they age faster than smaller breeds.
Larger dogs have more strained physiological processes because of their size. In other words, they deteriorate faster due to their size. It’s the opposite for smaller breeds, so it explains why Chihuahuas tend to live longer.
But there are things we can do to extend our dogs’ lives and have them with us for longer
It’s important to note that lifestyle is a major factor, so if you want your dog to live longer, you need to provide a healthy one. PetMD offers a lot of useful information on this topic and talking with your vet to ask for tips is also a great idea.
One of the most important things to pay attention to is weight. You want your dog to have a healthy weight. Being too heavy will affect the dog’s quality of life and shorten its lifespan.
We understand it’s difficult to resist when they’re begging with their puppy eyes to have some of our food. However, we must resist and only feed them an appropriate number of times throughout the day.
Additionally, getting your dog annual checkups and taking care of their dental health is also important. Small issues can turn into something else, so it’s best to catch and treat them early.
It’s also important to encourage exercise without pushing the dog breed beyond its limits. Socializing with other dogs and humans, and having enough playtime is key for their physical and mental health.
Last but not least, you must neuter or spay your dogs. The process might be a bit difficult and it can even be dangerous, but the benefits are far greater. It’s still one of the best ways to reduce the risks of behavioral issues and many types of cancer.
Let’s take good care of our four-legged friends to have them around for as long as possible and celebrate many more birthdays than we ever thought. Thanks for reading! And if it’s your dog’s birthday, hug them for us!