Kevin, who recently took the crown for the world’s tallest dog, has died.
The 3-year-old Great Dane died after getting sick and undergoing a surprise surgery, his family announced.
“Our whole family is devastated about Kevin. He was just the best giant boy,” Kevin’s owner, Tracy Wolfe, said in a statement to Guinness World Records.
“We are so glad that he was able to break the record and have that light on him. He absolutely adored the attention. I wish these giant breeds, and all dogs, could live longer than they do. It’s never enough time.”
A spokesperson for Guinness World Records said the organization is “deeply saddened” to hear of Kevin’s unexpected death.
“Tracy and the team at the vet clinic she works in did everything they could to save Kevin after he became ill,” the representative continued. “Our thoughts and support are with the Wolfe family as they navigate this difficult time.”
Kevin resided in West Des Moines, Idaho, with his family — Tracy, her husband Roger and their kids Ava, 10 and Alexander, 12 — and clinched the title after measuring in at 3 feet and 2 inches tall, the height of a small child and nearly a foot taller than the average Great Dane.
On his hind legs, Kevin, whose name is a nod to the “Home Alone” character Kevin McCallister, towered at 7 feet, but was considered a “gentle giant.”
“Kevin’s favourite activity is probably taking naps. Holding the couch down is his favorite pastime, I think,” Tracy said when her pooch first became the titleholder.
“Kevin is funny and he is super duper friendly. In fact, overly friendly. You don’t want to keep your mouth open too much when he’s around,” she continued. “But everybody loves seeing him as long as they don’t get whipped by his tail.”
Despite his record-breaking size, Kevin — who seems unaware of how “big” he is — was easily spooked.
“He is terrified of the vacuum. He won’t let it come within 6 ft of him! He will jump and run to get away from it,” Tracy said at the time, describing the canine as a “big baby.”
His successor, a fellow Great Dane named Zeus, was the previous titleholder who died last September at 3 years old.
