Do you have a 'fossil dog'? TikTokers share the stories of their pets who 'just ... trends now
A new trend has exploded across TikTok, with users showcasing their elderly pets in clips and coining them 'fossil dogs' as a way of coping with their beloved pets' mortality.
The hashtag has racked up millions of views on the video-sharing platform as users marvel over their ancient dogs, some of whom seem appear to be clinging on to life.
Many of the pets who feature in the videos have eyes clouded with cataracts, bodies rigid with arthritis and matted fur - but they are undeniably loved.
'When I come home from college to see my 19 year old blind, deaf, toothless dog with dementia that never knows where he is,' one user captioned a video of her graying Dachshund.
Another clip featuring a small black dog with a severe underbite was captioned, 'When I come home and see my 16 year old fossil dog lost three more teeth.'
'When I come home from college to see my 19 year old blind, deaf, toothless dog with dementia that never knows where he is,' one user captioned a video of her graying Dachshund
Another clip showcasing a small black dog with a severe underbite was captioned, 'When I come home and see my 16 year old fossil dog lost three more teeth'
Another college student shared on TikTok that she was 'coming home after college to my 15-year-old fossil dog who's deaf with dementia'
Of course, saying goodbye is inevitable, and for some pet owners, trends like the 'fossil dog' phenomenon can offer solace.
One user's video about her 16-year-old dog, Brutus, had garnered nearly 4 million views at the time of writing.
'Brutus is a paid actor,' the user quipped, noting that the dog she'd grown up with was blind, deaf and 'going into kidney failure.'
And while commenters showered the adorable pooch in praise, calling him a 'baby,' the video creator seemed acutely aware of reality.
'Don't worry guys, he's on comfort care and a s*** ton of drugs until it's his time,' she wrote.
Another user shared a clip of her boyfriend's parent's 'fossil dog'
Some owners of elderly pets have commented that their dogs 'just won't die'
The fascination with long-lived dogs is nothing new. The Guinness Book of World Records even has an entry for the world's oldest pooch.
That title was most recently held by Bobi, a 31-year-old Rafeiro do Alentejo hailing from Portugal.
According to Leonel Costa, who has lived alongside Bobi ever since he was eight years old, the herding dog was born in 1992.
But Costa's father decided they already had too many animals at home and took the litter to be destroyed.
A few days later, Costa and his brothers were shocked to find Bobi alive, tucked away in a pile of logs. They hid the puppy from their parents until he was too old to be put down.
Costa credited Bobi's longevity to the 'calm, peaceful environment' he lived in, according to a release from Guinness. He was never chained or leashed and ate nly human food.
His 31st birthday celebration in May was attended by more than 100 people and a performing dance troupe.
'Bobi is special because looking at him is like remembering the people who were part of our family and unfortunately are no longer here, like my father, my brother, or my grandparents who have already left this world,' Costa said at the time.
Bobi died in October 2023, at a record-breaking 31 years and 165 days. However, Guinness Book of World Records later rescinded the title, after they could find 'no conclusive evidence which can definitively prove Bobi's date of birth.'
Once the world's oldest dog, Bobi, who lived to the old age of 31, died in October 2023. However, his official world record was later rescinded, after Guinness could find 'no conclusive evidence which can definitively prove Bobi's date of birth'
'Despite outliving every dog in history, his 11,478 days on earth would never be enough for those who loved him,' veterinarian Karen Becker wrote on Facebook to announce
