108-Year-Old Woman Reveals The Secret To Her Long Life Was Having Dogs Instead Of Children

Let’s give a round of a-paws to one woman who just celebrated her 108th birthday. Ada Daniel has lived for over a century on this Earth and experienced some of history’s biggest moments.

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Now, the native of England shares her secret for living longer: have pets instead of kids. According to her caretaker, Kelly Goucher, Ada Daniel has not had children and has always shown a preference for dogs over people, as shared in a recent interview with South West News Service.

“I think that’s the same for a lot of people,” Goucher said. “She doesn’t really got a lot of family.”

"She never had any children so she doesn't have any grandchildren so we just wanted to get her as many cards as possible."

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"She quite likes the fact that people know about her because of her age."

Kelly explained that Ada didn’t have children but was a mother to plenty of fur babies at one point.

"She had a lot of greyhounds,” she said.

Kelly added: "She's definitely a character. I did ask her what her secret was once and she said it was to have dogs, not kids."

However, it is her dogs that have been a constant source of motivation for Daniel throughout her extensive life. 

PICTURE SUPPLIED

Ada Daniel, believed to be the 65th oldest person in the United Kingdom, attributes her longevity to the philosophy of "keeping busy" throughout her life.

Born on June 1, 1915, amidst the tumultuous era of World War I, Daniel has witnessed and endured the reigns of 23 prime ministers, the rule of five monarchs, and has bravely survived numerous wars and two pandemics.

Kelly Goucher / SWNS

In 1944, at the age of 27, Ada Daniel married her husband, Perry. After Perry passed away at the age of 73, Ada continued to reside in their cottage home until recently, when she moved to Codnor Park Care Home just five years ago.

In 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown, Ada Daniel joyfully celebrated her 105th birthday, receiving an abundance of love and birthday cards from her devoted fans.

To make this year's milestone even more memorable, Ada's caretaker, Kelly Goucher, took it upon herself to arrange something extraordinary. Goucher posted a heartfelt message on Facebook, appealing to well-wishers to send 108 cards to honor Ada's special day.

Goucher noted, “She’s literally been on about her birthday since April and she’s been on countdown to the big day.”

Kelly Goucher / SWNS

“We didn't tell her we had made the appeal and the amount of messages we got was just through the roof." Goucher explained.

Ada Daniel was not only fortunate enough to receive all 108 cards requested, but she was also pleasantly surprised by an additional 200 cards, which left her feeling deeply moved and overwhelmed by the outpouring of affection.

In celebration of this significant milestone, Kelly Goucher and the staff at the residential home organized a joyous birthday bash for Ada. The venue was adorned with vibrant balloons, supplies for a delightful afternoon tea, and festive banners showcasing the portrait of the birthday girl.

Kelly Goucher / SWNS

"We've also had a lot of donations - so people have given us banners with her picture on and balloons with her name on."