UK's oldest pair of charity rescue dogs still going strong - at combined age of 37

Britain's oldest pair of charity rescue dogs are 'thriving' a year on from finally finding their forever home - at a combined age of 37.

Collie crosses Sheba, 19, and Teddy, 18, are aged the total equivalent of a staggering 269 in dog years and are still going strong.

The veteran pooches were taken into the care of the Dogs Trust in Evesham, Worcs., after their owner sadly passed away in November 2022.

However nobody came forward to give them the retirement home they needed after they were repeatedly overlooked due to their ageing years.

Dogs Trust volunteer Sue Lewis stepped in as she couldn’t bear the thought of the pair being separated after a lifetime of being looked after together as beloved pets.

Sue, 70, and husband Peter, 67, took in the inseparable duo 12 months ago and say they are still as sprightly as ever.

Sheba and Teddy were the oldest pair of dogs ever cared for by the animal charity and had faced an uncertain future in January last year.

Now they enjoy going for walkies around the golf course near the couple's home in Redditch, Worcs., as well as regular trips to Cornwall and the beach.

Company director Peter said: "In the last four weeks, we've had people all over asking us how the dogs are getting on and they're both absolutely thriving.

"They might be 19 and 18 years old now, but they really don't look it.

"For the past year, they've been on 45-minute walks in the morning and 30-minute walks on the evening as well as enjoying time on the beach down in Cornwall.

"They love it. They really are fabulous and the loveliest pair of dogs.

"Sheba is a bit of a diva, she reminds me of Grace Kelly. She's all very prim and proper.

"Whereas Teddy is more of a Del Boy character. He really makes me laugh and has a sort of a cockney swagger, if that's even possible.

"If I'm fussing or playing with Sheba, Teddy is right in there nudging her nose out of the way.

"He doesn't like the vets though. We had a real battle with taking him to have a tooth out. He may be old but he still knows how to put up a fight if he wants to.

"But they are both just amazing and affectionate dogs and we are delighted we gave them their home.

"We just couldn't bear to see them separated. Older dogs are harder to rehome anyway and even more difficult as a pair.

"They wouldn't have lasted a week if they had found new homes separately, we had to keep them together.

"The whole family love them and the grandkids always fight over who gets to hold the leads when taking them on a walk so we have to keep rotating them.

"The dogs are really loved and cherished. Adopting them was the best thing we ever did."

Due to being older, the charity found it hard to rehome the pair until Sue stepped up after falling in love while taking them on a walk.

The couple have had dogs for the past 50 years and the two new additions quickly became a staple part of the family.

Sue said previously: "I fell in love with Sheba and Teddy instantly after I went out on a walk with them and one of their carers.

"He was telling me all about how they were being overlooked by potential adopters due to the fact they are an older pair and my heart broke.

"I said, ‘do you think they’d like to come and live with me’ and the rest is history.

"I’m just so happy I was able to keep them together in their twilight years to live out their lives with us.”

Chris Slight, rehoming centre manager at Dogs Trust Evesham, said at the time: “Sheba and Teddy’s world was turned upside down when their owner died.

"We were all eager to find them a home together – which was proving difficult due to their age and because we were looking for an owner to take on a pair.

"Luckily Sue fell in love with them and it’s been the ideal outcome for everyone.

"We know they’ll be very happy with Sue and Pete who will make sure they have everything they could hope for in their final forever home."