Bobi, previously recognized as the “oldest ever dog” by Guinness World Records (GWR), has had his title provisionally suspended as GWR conducts an investigation into his age. Bobi, who passed away in October at the reported age of 31 years and 165 days, is currently under scrutiny following emerging doubts about the evidence supporting his age, a CNN report said.
A GWR spokesperson said, “While our review is ongoing we have decided to temporarily pause both the record titles for oldest dog living & ever just until all of our findings are in place.”
Initially, Bobi’s age was verified by the Veterinary Medical Service of the Municipality of Leiria and SIAC, a Portuguese government-authorized pet database.This led to GWR’s announcement in February that Bobi had set the record. However, following his death, questions arose regarding the authenticity of the evidence of his age.
The GWR spokesperson explained that their formal review process, triggered by a challenge to a record title, involves a thorough examination of existing evidence, the search for new evidence, consultations with experts, and reaching out to those involved in the original application.
Bobi, a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo, a Portuguese breed known for guarding livestock, lived a life of freedom in Conqueiros, a small village in Portugal. His owner, Leonel Costa, shared that Bobi was never leashed or chained and enjoyed a peaceful environment. Costa, who was 8 years old when Bobi was born in 1992, attributed the dog’s longevity to a diet of human food without seasonings and a calm living environment.
The previous record for the oldest living dog and the oldest dog ever was held by Bluey, an Australian cattle-dog born in 1910, who lived to be 29 years and five months old.