There are so many dog breeds in the world, but everyone has a favorite. For me, it’s the German Shepherd—I love their majestic look. But I know tons of people adore Golden Retrievers for their cute, friendly nature.
Now, let me tell you about a special Golden Retriever who just celebrated a huge milestone—her 20th birthday!
Meet August, or “Augie” for short, born on April 24, 2000. Augie had a bumpy start, being rehomed twice before finally settling in with Jennifer and Steve in Oakland, Tennessee. And she’s been living her best life with them ever since! In fact, she’s now the oldest known Golden Retriever, according to GoldHeart Golden Retrievers Rescue.
Jennifer and Steve adopted Augie when she was already 14 years old, knowing that most dogs only live 10-14 years. But they couldn’t have guessed that Augie would stay with them for another 6+ healthy years, breaking records along the way!
To celebrate her big day, GoldHeart Golden Retrievers Rescue shared Augie’s 20th birthday party on Facebook. It blew up, with 16,000 reactions, 11,000 congratulatory comments, and 23,000 shares! Augie partied with Jennifer, Steve, and her three furry siblings—Sherman, Belle, and Bruce.
There was a big banner and a carrot cake, making the day even more special. According to Jennifer, Augie is still healthy, though she shakes a little when getting up. But other than that, she enjoys her daily walks around the yard.
When Augie was 14, she was diagnosed with kidney failure, so she now eats a mix of wet and dry food to stay healthy. But nothing’s slowing her down!
“There are many stories of Goldens living to 17 or 18, and a few reaching 19, but Augie is the first to hit 20,” GoldHeart said in their post.
To put Augie’s age in perspective, in the year 2000, Bill Clinton was president, the PlayStation 2 was released, and movies like Gladiator and X-Men were hitting theaters. Feeling old yet?
Augie had the perfect birthday, surrounded by her loving humans, furry friends, and a tasty carrot cake.
GoldHeart also shared some tips on keeping dogs safe and healthy:
- Listen to your vet—they know what’s best for your pet.
- Pay attention to your dog’s behavior. If they’re not eating or acting like themselves, it might be time for a checkup.
- Feed your dog healthy food, just like you would for a child.
- Groom them regularly to spot any ear or skin issues.
- Make sure they get daily exercise to stay strong.
We’ve all heard about 18 or 19-year-old retrievers, but a 20-year-old? That’s something special!
People online were thrilled and sent tons of love to August, the adorable Golden Retriever who defied all the odds.
