World's 'oldest dog' dies aged 30 on Australian dairy farm

Australian kelpie Maggie, who died aged 30, was thought to be the world's oldest dog. PHOTO: FACEBOOK/FOX59

An Australian kelpie thought to be the world's oldest dog died on Sunday (April 17) aged 30 - or 133 in human years.

Maggie had lived on a dairy farm in Woolsthorpe, southern Victoria, since she was just eight weeks old, ABC News Online reported on Wednesday (April 20).

Owner Brian McLaren said his pet passed away peacefully, curled up in her bed, on Sunday (April 17) night.

"She was still going along nicely last week, she was walking from the dairy to the office and growling at the cats and all that sort of thing," he told News Corp on Wednesday.

"She just went downhill in two days and I said... she hasn't got long now. I'm sad, but I'm pleased she went the way she went."

Maggie's age cannot be verified as Mr McLaren said he lost the dog's paperwork when she was a puppy.

The official holder of the world's oldest dog is held by an Australian cattle dog called Bluey, who died aged 29 in 1939.

Mr McLaren said he took Maggie back to the family farm when his youngest son, Liam, was just four. He is now 34, which means the extraordinary dog was at least 30.

"We were great mates, it is a bit sad," said McLaren, who has already buried the kelpie.

Maggie, who was deaf but had not visited the vet for 15 years, was still working as the farm's guard dog in her later years.

She was almost killed last October when a utility vehicle ran over her as she slept on the road.

Most dogs live for between eight and 15 years. Authentic records of dogs living for more than 20 years are rare and generally involve smaller breeds.

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