Uncle Chichi, Unofficial World's Oldest Dog, Dies After Living More Than 24 Years (VIDEO)
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Uncle Chichi, a lovable toy poodle from New York's West Village believed to have possibly been the world's oldest dog, passed away Tuesday following a tough bout with cancer, The New York Times reports.
Though the dog's exact age was not known, it is believed Chichi lived to be somewhere between 24 and 26-years-old, according to the Associated Press.
Owners Frank Pavich and Janet Puhalovic made the tough decision to put the pooch down.
Natives of South Carolina, the couple adopted Chichi from the John Ancrum Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Charleston when he was one or two-years-old, according to his official Facebook page.
Records and photos proving his age were lost, making it impossible to determine whether he was officially the world's oldest dog, according to Gothamist.
The Guinness Book of World Record's requires official birth certificates and official documents for claiming such titles.
Despite losing his vision and his hearing, Chichi lived a full life.
A frequent international traveler, the adorable pet not only visited Croatia for his owners' wedding, but he had also traveled to Italy, Slovenia, Switzerland, Germany, and France, according to the Village Voice.
Pusuke, a 26-year-old Shiba mix from Japan, previously held the title for the world's oldest dog until he died in December of 2011.
The oldest dog to have ever lived is reportedly a 29-year-old sheepdog who lived in Australia.
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The Huffington Post Tara Kelly
First Posted: 01/23/2012 6:06 pm Updated: 01/23/2012 6:12 pm