‘Oldest ever dog,’ Bobi, has title suspended amid investigation
By Issy Ronald, CNN
(CNN) — The world’s “oldest ever dog” Bobi, who died in October reportedly aged 31, has provisionally lost his title as Guinness World Records (GWR) investigates his age, a spokesperson for the company told CNN on Tuesday.
“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,” the spokesperson said.
Bobi’s age had initially been confirmed by Serviço Medico-Veterinário do Município de Leiria (Veterinary Medical Service of the Municipality of Leiria), which said he had been registered in 1992 while SIAC, a Portuguese government-authorized pet database, verified this, according to GWR’s February announcement of the record.
He was reportedly 31 years and 165 days old when he died in October.
However, suspicions began to emerge soon after Bobi’s death regarding the evidence that reportedly proved his true age.
A spokesperson told CNN Tuesday that GWR’s formal review occurs when a record title is challenged and involves analyzing existing evidence, seeking new evidence, reaching out to experts and those linked to the original application.
Bobi’s owner Leonel Costa, who said he was 8 years old when his dog was born in 1992, told GWR in February that there were many secrets to the dog’s extraordinary old age.
Bobi always roamed freely, without a leash or chain, lived in a “calm, peaceful” environment and ate human food soaked in water to remove seasonings, Costa said.
He was a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo – a breed of livestock guardian dog – according Costa. Rafeiro do Alentejos have a life expectancy of about 12-14 years, according to the American Kennel Club.
Bobi spent his whole life in Conqueiros, a small Portuguese village about 150 kilometers (93 miles) north of the capital Lisbon, often wandering around with cats.
The previous record holder for oldest living dog and the oldest dog ever was held by Australian cattle-dog Bluey, who was born in 1910 and lived to be 29 years and five months old.
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