April 3 (UPI) -- A Missouri man's pet has been officially named the oldest living dove in captivity at the age of 44 years and 72 days.
Guinness World Records said Sugar, a dove belonging to Chesterfield resident Dewayne Orender, 77, surpassed the previous record, which was held by a German dove named Methuselah, by over 15 years.
Doves in captivity typically have a life expectancy of about 20 years.
"He seems very happy and content," Orender told Guinness World Records. "He loves me dearly -- he and I are best friends."
Orender has had Sugar since the day he hatched -- his parents were previously Orender's pets. He said Sugar had a mate named Rose, but she died of natural causes in 1996.
Orender said Sugar's favorite activity is to sit on the couch with him and watch TV, earning him the nickname "lap dog." He said Sugar will tap his foot when there is music playing.
"I've been in the music business for over 50 years, and he's very much in love with music," he said. "He's even pictured on two of my music videos... You'll see Sugar's picture on his 40th birthday and again on the song 'God's Spotlight,' which I tell him he's part writer because he inspired the song."
