THIS November marks 80 years since ‘Bluey’ the 29-year-old blue heeler – and world’s oldest dog – died.
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A Rochester local, loyal Bluey was proudly owned by Les and Rose Hall, whose daughter Edna Staley, 89, still lives in town.
The heeler holds the Guinness World Record title for oldest dog in the world. Going by the seven-year rule, this would have made Bluey 203 years old in human terms.
To mark the anniversary, the Rochester Business Network has announced plans to immortalise Bluey as part of a mural project.
Edna said she was delighted to hear about the mural, which will appear on the pump shed wall at the Rochester swimming pool.
“I’m really over the moon. My dad grew up with Bluey, who was his father’s originally, and he loved him his whole life. It will be beautiful,” she said.
A grocer all his life in Rochester, Edna described her late father as a stickler for the rules, which came in handy when proving Bluey’s age. He had shire registration records dating all the way back to Bluey’s birth.
Although Bluey died when she was 10, Edna said she still had fond memories of the loyal family pet.
“All my memories of him were as an old dog, and I remember him being very loyal to the family. I remember him walking up the street with my mum, and waiting with the pram outside the store on the main street while she went shopping, and he would keep an eye on the children because the pram was too big to go inside,” she said.
Remarkably, Edna said Bluey never went to a vet, and the only real health problem he encountered was arthritis towards the end of his life. “I’m not sure why or how he lived so long, but he lived differently from how pets live now. In those days, your dog would just get the scraps of your dinner and other food around the place, we didn’t buy dog food or anything like that.”
Edna said the family did get a number of other dogs after Bluey died, but none quite like him. “My father really loved him, I’m sure he was very sad when he died. The silos are so beautiful and I’m really proud that my father’s legacy will be kept in a similar way. I think he would have thought it was wonderful,” she said.
The RBN said if it all went to plan, the painting would take place during the coming mural festival.
It is looking for the community to get on board to help make it happen.
Contributions can be made at the Rochester Community Bank or by account transfer. Put your name and Bluey on the reference line.
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