World’s oldest dog contender Lazare passes away in France

World’s oldest dog contender Lazare passes away in France

Mangalore Today News Network

France, May 16, 2026: A dog believed to be a contender for the title of the world’s oldest dog has died in France at the age of 30.

According to animal charity worker Anne-Sophie Moyon, Lazare, a Papillon dwarf spaniel, was born on December 4, 1995. The dog, known for his upright “butterfly” ears, spent most of his life with his owner until she passed away.

Following the owner’s death, Lazare was taken to an animal shelter run by the charity.

Last month, 29-year-old single mother Ophélie Boudol adopted Lazare and brought him home to live with her nine-year-old son and two cats. She was informed that the dog had been found beside the body of his deceased owner.

Boudol said she agreed to adopt Lazare as long as he got along with her cats.

“I spent half an hour sitting next to him, then I said, ‘Listen, if nobody wants to take him, I don’t mind — as long as he gets on with the cats,’” she told AFP.

However, Lazare died just a few weeks later. Boudol affectionately called him her “little grandpa baby.” At 30 years and five months old, the dog wore nappies and had lost both his sight and hearing. He reportedly spent most of his time sleeping.

“He was off to reunite with his first carer. He really had such an endearing personality,” Boudol said.

Animal charity worker Moyon said her team initially treated Lazare’s possible record as a joke, but later verified his age and completed paperwork for a potential world record application.

According to AFP, Guinness World Records had not received an official application or supporting evidence before Lazare’s death, and therefore could not confirm whether he was officially the world’s oldest dog.