Stella, a Great Dane in the Chattanooga Suburb of Hixson, turned 13 years old this week, likely making her the oldest Great Dane to have ever lived.
Great Danes, are the tallest dogs in the world, but in spite of their size, they are highly social and are often called "gentle giants." Their size, however, comes with a significant downside, they have an average life expectancy of only 7 to 10 years.
“When we adopted Stella, in April of 2008, she was just 8 weeks old,” said Jeff Holst.
When Stella was born George W.
Bush was serving as the 43rd president of the United States, and amazingly she has lived long enough to see the inauguration of 46th President Joseph Biden.
"I never really wanted a big dog. I preferred our Chihuahuas, but my wife, Becky, really wanted a Dane," Mr. Holst said. "After some discussion, I relented and this is one time I am truly glad I did."
Mr. Holst is a cancer-survivor, a real estate investor and the co-host of the Last Life Ever Podcast.