World's Oldest Dog, Bobi, Passes Away at 31
Bobi, the world's oldest dog, has passed away at the age of 31 years and 165 days. The purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo lived in Conqueiros, Portugal, and was officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest dog in February. This shattered the previous record held by Australia's Bluey, who lived to be 29 years and five months old in 1939.
Born on May 11, 1992, Bobi defied the typical life expectancy of his breed, which is 12 to 14 years. Bobi's remarkable life began in an outhouse where he was born with three siblings. The Costa family, who already had many animals, had initially planned to put the puppies down. Fortunately, Bobi managed to escape their fate and was adopted into the Costa family, where he became an integral part of their lives.
Bobi's journey wasn't without its challenges, including a health scare in 2018 when he was hospitalised for breathing difficulties. However, his family believes that his secret to longevity lay in the "calm, peaceful environment" of the village of Conqueiros and the fact that he always had the freedom to roam and ate the same food as the family.
The news of Bobi's passing was shared by Dr. Karen Becker, a veterinarian who had the privilege of meeting the elderly canine several times. She posted on social media, "Last night, this sweet boy earned his wings. Despite outliving every dog in history, his 11,478 days on Earth would never be enough, for those who loved him."
Leonel Costa, who was just eight years old when Bobi was born, cherished the decades he spent with his loyal companion. Not only did Bobi break records, but he also shared a similar fate with his family's other dogs, including his mother Gira, who lived to be 18, and Chicote, who reached 22 years of age.
Bobi's remarkable story is a testament to the bond between humans and their four-legged friends and serves as a reminder of the incredible impact a pet can have on our lives. Though Bobi may have left this world, his legacy as the world's oldest dog lives on, leaving an permanent mark on the hearts of those who knew and loved him.
