Watercooler Stories

Texas Clydesdale may be tallest horse

PRINCETON, Texas, June 2 (UPI) -- A Texas woman said she believes her Clydesdale horse, Remington, has a shot at setting the Guinness World Record for the tallest living horse.

Cheryl Davis, of Princeton, said she believes the horse is larger than the current record -- 6 feet-7 1/2 inches from hoof to the top of the shoulder -- despite the fact that he has never held still for long enough to be measured, The Dallas Morning News reported Tuesday.

Davis, who estimated Remington's height as 6 feet, 8 inches from hoof to shoulder, said the horse will be officially measured Friday and Saturday at the Lake Country Animal Hospital with photos, videos and witness statements being collected for Guinness consideration.

Davis said there are probably horses in the world taller than Remington, but many people do not bother with the plethora of paperwork and other requirements insisted on by Guinness.

"If it lasts 10 minutes or 10 days, it will just be something happy to show," Davis said. "He draws a crowd wherever he goes."

Woman seeks 52-pound runaway tortoise

WEST CHESTER, Pa., June 2 (UPI) -- A Pennsylvania woman said she is desperately searching for her runaway pet -- a 52-pound, 2-foot-long African sulcata tortoise.

Simmer Dougherty, 48, whose pets and rescue animals include a lamb, a miniature horse, dogs, goats, chicks and ducks, said Nala the tortoise escaped from her yard Tuesday after the gate was left slightly ajar following a duck food delivery at her Chester County home, the Philadelphia Enquirer reported Tuesday.

Dougherty said Nala, who is estimated to be between 5 and 15-years-old, can cover a lot of ground when she feels the need. She said the tortoise traveled three miles in the single day during an escape two years ago.

"She's really fast this time of year," Dougherty said.

"I am devastated that this turtle is gone, and I feel responsible and I feel heart-broken," she said. "It's just terrible, and I want to make sure she's safe. People out here eat snapping turtles, so I'm concerned someone will find her and make dinner."

Dougherty said she also fears someone finding Nala and placing her in a river or a stream.

"It would kill her," Doughtery said. "She can't swim."

Smokey the Shih Tzu 23 years old

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., June 2 (UPI) -- A Florida couple said their pet dog Smokey is 23 years old, two years older than the dog that was previously thought to hold the title of world's oldest dog.

Joe Slatton, 78, and his wife Mary, 76, of St. Petersburg, said they were not impressed when NBC's "Today" show featured a 21-year-old dachshund dubbed the oldest living dog, because their Shih Tzu, Smokey, is two years that dog's senior, the St. Petersburg Times reported Tuesday.

"My wife told me about the show," Slatton said. "Of course she knew, too, that Smokey was way older than that dog on TV."

The couple's claims were verified by the VCA St. Petersburg Animal Hospital, which holds records giving Smokey's birth date as Jan. 18, 1986.

Brooks Ohman, a technician at Gulfport Veterinarian, said Smokey is in excellent health.

"For sure he's the oldest dog I have ever worked with. And he's in great shape," Ohman said.

Slatton said while age has slowed Smokey down a bit, he is still very active and enjoys walks.

"I started taking him to the Home Depot, and he has been really enjoying looking at the appliances there," Slatton said.

"I wouldn't know to what specific thing I could attribute his age to," he said. "I guess it's just a combination of a healthy Pedigree diet and loads of exercise."

The Guinness Book of World Records states the oldest-ever dog died at the age of 29.5 years in 1939.

Couple fought $21,600 water bill

TAMPA, Fla., June 2 (UPI) -- A Tampa, Fla., couple said it took them several months to resolve the issue of a monthly water bill for more than $21,000.

Ralph and Diana Salgado said their water bill usually falls between $21 and $110 each month, but their July 2008 bill from the Tampa Water Department totaled $21,600, indicating that 3.5 million gallons of water were used by the couple during that month, The Tampa (Fla.) Tribune reported Tuesday.

"They just billed us; they didn't even question it," Diana Salgado said.

The couple said they soon determined that the erroneous amount was the result of a new water meter that had not been calibrated to match the old reading.

However, they said the water department continued to demand the money for months after the problem was identified.

"It took several months to settle," Diana Salgado said.