HAM430: Feature Article Practice

The following is a feature article practice from class.

The Oldest Dog

Side by side, as they have done for nearly three decades, Jerry and Woody Smith take their nightly bush walk.

“He sometimes gets so excited that he jumps up and grabs me on the arm like he did when he was younger” said Mr Smith.

With every step Jerry comes closer to breaking a Guinness record. On Sunday Jerry turns 27-years-old, 189 in dog years, making him the oldest dog in the world.

The 2004 edition of the Guinness Book of Records states currently the oldest dog is 27-year-old Butch in the US, but he died in July.

It is thought that the oldest dog ever was an Australian cattle dog called Bluey. He died in 1939 at 29 years of age.

Jerry lives in the small New South Wales town of Wilcannia, 195km east of Broken Hill. Founded in 1864, the former major Darling River port is now struggling to survive as a service town for outback settlers.

The town may be struggling to survive but Jerry is still going strong. He may provide publicity and hope the community needs.

“Everyone in Wilcannia knows Jerry and loves him. He's a bit of an identity around here” says Mr Smith.

Mr Smith is a respected Aboriginal tribal leader that also works for the council. He and his wife Aileen have three children.

Their 26-year-old daughter Tanya grew up with Jerry and now her children probably will too.

“He could push on to 28” says Dr Nelson. The RSPCA vet recently examined Jerry. “He is a remarkably solid dog for his age and has not got that wasted look that some animals and people get”.

How does Jerry age so well? Mr Smith says Jerry has a high protien diet and a “good bush lifestyle”. Dr Nelson has put it down to genetics and his active lifestyle. “He's a fit, roo hunting dog” she says.

Jerry should not stay complacent. Mr and Mrs Smith have another dog, 20-year-old Kojack, who is Jerry's companion.