The global canine community mourns the loss of Bobi, the world’s oldest dog, who passed away at the age of 31 in a village in central Portugal. Guinness World Records confirmed the news on Monday.
Bobi, a purebred Rafeiro Alentejano, lived for an impressive 31 years and 165 days. This surpassed the previous record set in 1939 by an Australian cattle-dog, which lived to be 29 years and five months old.
Despite setting the historical milestone for canine longevity, Karen Becker, a veterinarian who had met Bobi on multiple occasions, stated, “Despite outliving every dog in history, his 11,478 days on earth would never be enough for those who loved him.” She was the first to share the sad news of Bobi’s passing on social media, adding a heartfelt, “Godspeed, Bobi.”
Bobi’s achievement was officially recognized by Guinness World Records in February of this year. It’s particularly notable considering Rafeiro Alentejano, a breed traditionally used as sheepdogs, typically has a life expectancy ranging from 12 to 14 years.
Leonel Costa, Bobi’s owner, believes that a combination of factors contributed to his dog’s remarkable longevity. Among these are the peaceful life in the countryside, the fact that Bobi was never chained or leashed, and his diet which consisted of “human food”.
Bobi’s life had an unusual start. Born at a time when the Costa family had many animals and limited resources, his hunter father often buried newborn puppies. Bobi, however, managed to survive by hiding amidst a stack of firewood. He was discovered days later by Costa and his siblings, who kept him hidden until he was old enough to open his eyes.