Golden Retrievers usually live around 10-12 years, however with optimum care can live to 13 years or older. The oldest recorded Retriever was Augie at 20 years old but sadly passed away March 31st 2021.

An internet search showed no dogs currently as old as Lily is now, so Pause Cat Cafe in Bournemouth is trying to find out if sixteen year old Lily is in fact the oldest Golden Retriever alive today. Pause is awaiting charity registration, with their mission to nurture the bonds between humans, animals and the environment. Pause started as a non-profit rescue home and cat cafe in 2017, and their work has expanded to all animals, not just cats.

Lily still has a lust for life. She enjoys chasing a tennis ball at the beach near where she has lived since being rehomed to her human companion, Steff Cooke in 2010. The pedigree papers she came with show her date of birth as 7th September 2006, and official name ‘Bottlebush Bettie’. Steff says “People always comment on her age, but it wasn’t until I looked online to see how long Retrievers usually live that I realised she could actually be the oldest!”

Steff, 41, attributes his relationship with Lily to helping him cope with his chronic health challenges, so he is undertaking projects with Pause to encourage this beneficial human-animal interaction. One such project is a meet-up for dogs and dog-lovers in Bournemouth.

Steff says “Lily and I have both stayed alive longer than expected and I don’t think that’s a coincidence! She has got me through some tough times. Nothing beats the human-animal bond. I’m hoping this meet-up will give other animal lovers a chance to have some healing interaction and who knows, maybe we’ll find a Golden Retriever who can beat Lily’s record!” 

Anyone interested in meeting dogs and dog owners can visit tiny.cc/doggymeetup or if you know a retriever older than Lily, let them know on social media @PauseCatCafe