German shepherd mix in Türkiye chasing world's oldest dog title

By Huseyin Cem Dagistanli

ANKARA (AA) – Türkiye could soon be home to the world’s oldest living dog.

Zeynep, a German shepherd mix, is 23 years old, according to her owner Zehra Oya Buldu, who has urged the Guinness World Records to get official recognition to her loyal companion .

Buldu, 75, applied to the world’s most famous recordkeepers with the help of fellow animal lover Mehmet Armagan Akcay.

The evaluation process for Zeynep has already started and she recently underwent a third inspection to determine her age, Akcay, 79, told Anadolu Agency.

“The most important test is the bone age scan,” said veterinarian Resat Nuri Aslan, who examined Zeynep and gave her a general checkup in the Turkish capital Ankara.

“I think she really deserves this title,” he said.

According to Buldu, Zeynep grew up in a house full of children and now lives with six cats, a testament to her friendly demeanor.

Zeynep is vying to take the crown of oldest living dog from Gino, a 22-year-old Chihuahua mix in the US.

She is, however, some years away from challenging Bluey, an Australian cattle-dog who lived for 29 years and five months, for the title of oldest dog ever.