On Fri, 12 Dec 2003 09:03:00 -0500, "Sionnach"
wrote:


for some
reason I always thought dogs live to around 20 years, probably from
something my parents told me when I was young.

20 years is *highly* unusual. Average lifespan of dogs is, IIRC, 14- with
larger dogs generally living shorter lives (giant breeds' average age is
something like 9) and small generally dogs living longer.
So yes, 12 1/2 is getting up there for a Lab... one of our semi-regular
posters often uses a sig line which says "Dog's lives are too short- their
only fault, really."



that quote is so true... My sister has an african grey parrot that was
passed down from our great grandmother.. the parrot is about 75 years
old!! amazing really...