A pooch, believed to be the oldest dog in the world, has celebrated her 23rd birthday.
The dog lover who adopted Ladybug, also known as "Buggy", described the geriatric pup as a "miracle".
Mary Ho Hughes of Marietta, Pennsylvania, adopted Ladybug from a groomer after she was abandoned there.
According to Hughes, records from Ladybug's original owner showed that the pooch was born on January 3 2000, which would mean she's just turned 23.
If that date of birth is correct, it would make Ladybug the oldest dog in, not just the US, but the world.
According to the Guinness World Records, the oldest known living dog is Gino Wolf, who was born in September 2000. That record was verified in November 2022.
Hughes said that although it would be great to get Ladybug's age formally verified, they're just happy Ladybug has been in their lives for so long, reports Fox43.
Nicole Blithe, a veterinarian at the Neffsville Clinic. said: "It's a good thing to come into this afternoon. We just love celebrating with her and we're so glad that she's still here with us at 23."
Hughes said: "She's a miracle."
Huges as also said she is considering getting Ladybug official recognition from Guinness World Records.
The family lovingly refer to her as a dumpster dog.
"No matter how much we groom her, she looked like she had crawled out of a dumpster," Hughes told WGAL.
The current record holder, Gino, was adopted by Alex Wolf in Boulder, Colorado, in 2002. Alex said: "I've taken great care of him over the years and he is still in relatively very good shape...and really cute still which is surprising considering his age!"
Sadly not all dogs have as loving owners as Gino and Ladybug.
A young dog was found dumped outside an airport after a traveller was banned from flying with her.
The "incredibly sweet" one-year-old puppy, later named Allie by rescuers, was tied up in front of Des Moines International Airport in Iowa, US, last Thursday and rescued by Animal Rescue League.
Airport staff told the animal welfare charity that a traveller - presumed to be the dog's owner - had been stopped from taking the pup on the plane because they didn't have a carrier.
The person left the airport with the puppy and then returned alone to board the flight, leaving the pooch tied up outdoors.
