Oxford's oldest dog celebrates 19 years

OXFORD — People say they love their pets, but for all of the pats on the head and praises of "good boy," the birthdays of our four-footed companions often slip by unremarked upon.

Not so for Butchie, a dog in Oxford that belongs to resident Richard Varney.

Varney is hosting a birthday party for his beloved pooch at the Tractor Supply Store on Route 26. He's invited friends and family, and says that even Town Manager Michael Chammings is slated to come by and wish Butchie well.

Some people might think that hosting a birthday party for a canine is cause for derision, but Varney says that Butchie is a very special dog, and that February 1 will mark a very special birthday.

At 19 years of age, Butchie, a black lab, will be the oldest dog in town. Previous news reports of Butchie's advanced age asked readers to send news of any dog in Oxford who is older than Butchie.

As none have come forward, Butchie can be rightly considered the oldest dog in Oxford, bar none.

Varney says that Butchie's long life can be attributed to a variety of factors, chief among them being the strong bond of love that he, Butchie, and Miss Carolina, an 11-year-old lab and blue tick hound mix, share.

Butchie's diet is not that unusual, with one exception. He generally has a breakfast of Gravy Train brand canned dog food, and he also eats Retriever Mini Chunk food from the Tractor Supply.

In addition, Butchie, who has no bones showing, gets a steady stream of human food, including hamburgers and an item that is notoriously bad for dogs: chocolate.

"Contrary to the old myth, he's had chocolate all his life," said Varney. "Cookies with chocolate chips is one of his favorites."

Butchie gets plenty of exercise, having nearly 1,000 acres of undeveloped land surrounding Varney's home.

"They get to run and play. They come with me wherever I go. They're like my kids," said Varney.

Varney says that he credits Norway Veterinarian Don McLean with saving both Butchie and Miss Carolina's lives, many times over.

"Don McLean is a miracle worker," said Varney. "He has done more miracles for these two dogs than I can count. I'd  trust my life with Don."

One time, says Varney, McLean treated a serious liver condition in Miss Carolina with a combination that included dandelion root and milk thistle.

"We used up every dandelion in his yard," said Varney. "And there I was, digging for dandelions in the lawn of the town office. It saved her life. She was almost dead."

Varney says that he got Butchie when Butchie was two years old.

"He had been severely beaten by his owner," said Varney. "I said 'I can't take any more dogs.' I reached over and I put my hands on his head, and I felt the knots where he had been beaten. That did it to me."

The party will take place  at the Tractor Supply Store on February 1 from 5 to 7 p.m.  The public is invited to stop by and meet Oxford's oldest dog.