Skippy – who gained international media attention earlier this year – has died at the age of 27.
The Border Collie was believed to be the country’s oldest dog and one of the oldest in the world.
His owner, 84-year-old Co Mayo farmer, Patrick Geraghty, noticed that he had been fading away just hours before he passed away on Wednesday, July 6th.
Reports suggest that the dog was “unable to walk in his final days”, but Geraghty tended to his pet – who was over 130-years-old in dog years – with bedding, water, food, and medicine.
The Erris native bought Skippy when he was just a few-weeks-old in the mid-1990s from Joe Dean, Belmullet. He was a farm dog up until two years ago.
Geraghty – who farms on Elly Bay – credited two tins of Brandy dog food daily, an Irish stew (gravy on top), water and fresh sea as the secrets behind his Border Collie’s long life.
The dog also became a brand ambassador for Brandy Dog Food – which is made from “100% Irish meat”.
He told Western People in an interview earlier this year that the dog was “never sick a day in his life and had a great appetite”.
His nephew, Pearse, told the Mayo-based publication that the day was “not in great health in recent weeks and months”, but he was “a real fighter”.
He said, “it was as if Skippy was holding out to see his face on the side of Brandy dog food tins with Pake that were launched last week”.
New 3ac dog park in Westmeath
In other dog-related news, a new 3-acre dog park has opened in Co Westmeath.
This afternoon (Wednesday, July 20th,), a spokesperson confirmed that works are now complete on the new dog park along the Royal Canal Way at Newbrook, Mullingar.
The park – located between the Royal Canal and the Old Mullingar-Athlone Rail Line – can be accessed from the Royal Canal and Old Rail Trail Greenways.
Read more on this news article.
