Week 10 Feature story- Jerry the oldest dog.

Once, a small town was delighted to be founded in 1864 as “Queen City of the West,” located in outback western New South Wales,  was not only a major port on the Darling River but also the third largest inland port in Australia but somehow it become a nearly ghost town, called Wilcannia.

Unlike the prosperous period in 1880’s, Wilcannia has been dwelled by merely 750 population of residents with a high percentage of the community being of indigenous decline, survives as only banks, shops, motels and service stations running in this nearly desolate area.

However, the most honest and best friend of Wilcannia, Jerry, might be noticed as a favourable turning point of this desperate town after living here for 27 years or even much longer!     

It is the world oldest dog Jerry that brings Wilcannia alive again with his age of 189 years old on Sunday. Apparently, it might sometimes be a sad story that one has been living for 189 years alone without any offspring. Yet in Wilcannia, where animals are essential to the indigenous community as lifelong companions and working partners, Jerry would never feel lonely.

A red heeler-bull terrier crosses dog with his owner or better called as family members, Woody Smith and Aileen. As an aboriginal tribal elder, a labourer and carpenter for Wilcannia Council, Woody and his wife, Aileen has been raising Jerry since he was a puppy as a constant companions, ”everyone in Wilcannia knows Jerry and loves him…he means a lot to me,” Woody said.     

The reasons that Jerry has lived longer is due to his healthy lifestyle and high protein diet. It has been confirmed by Jerry’s vet, Dr Honey Nelson, that Jerry is pretty healthy and amazing for his age. ”…but also because he’s a fit, roo hunting dog who used to catch a lot of emu and roo…” she said, “He could push on to 28- going by his body condition he could.”

Besides Jerry, Woody and Aileen have a 20 years old dog, Kojack, who is Jerry’s companion, “He’s been a good dog and a good friend,” Woody asserted. He further explained that not only Woody’s daughter, Tanya, who is 26, grew up with Jerry loves him so much, but also his grandkids.

According to the 2004 edition of the Guinness Book of Records, the oldest cat died at the age of 34 as well as Butch, a 27-year-old beagle from USA has been found dead in July. Also, an Australia cattle dog, Bluey, was died on November 14, 1939, with his age 29.

Last but not least, there is no doubt that Jerry has become the world oldest dog that will continue to accompany with the citizens of animal lovers in Wilcannia with his vigorous vitality for this splendid town in the future.