The world’s tallest male dog, who could stretch to seven feet tall when standing on his hind legs, died just days after his record-breaking achievement was announced to the world, according to Guinness World Records.
In March, Guinness certified Kevin as the tallest male dog in the world, measuring 3 feet, 2 inches from his feet to his withers (a.k.a. shoulders) — the average height of a 3-year-old child, and he stood to an amazing seven feet tall when standing on his hind legs, according to Guinness. That’s impressive, even for a Great Dane. The breed’s average height is around 0.76 (2 ft 6 in) to the shoulders.
As NBC News reports, Kevin — named after Macaulay Culkin’s character in “Home Alone” — died after he fell ill and underwent an unplanned surgery. He was just 3 years old. He lived in West Des Moines, Iowa, with his family, the Wolfe’s. “Our whole family is devastated about Kevin. He was just the best giant boy,” said Tracy Wolfe, who works at a veterinary clinic, in a statement. “We are so glad that he was able to break the record and have that light on him. He absolutely adored the attention,” the Wolfes’ statement said.
Kevin grabbed the record from Zeus, another Great Dane from the U.S., who measured 3 feet, 5.1 inches and also died at age 3 last year. “I wish these giant breeds, and all dogs, could live longer than they do. It’s never enough time,” the family’s statement added.
Tracy told the Guinness website that despite his size, Kevin was “a bit of a scaredy cat who was terrified of the vacuum and would run away whenever it came near him. I don’t think he’s aware he is as big as he is. He’s continuously trying to squeeze into small beds and sit on top of us, and do everything that the smaller dogs do,” she told the site.
A spokesperson for Guinness World Records said: “We are deeply saddened to learn that Kevin suddenly passed away after unexpected health complications. Tracy and the team at the vet clinic she works in did everything they could to save Kevin after he became ill. Our thoughts and support are with the Wolfe family as they navigate this difficult time.”
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