Bobi, a Portuguese dog hailed as the world’s oldest by Guinness World Records (GWR), has had his title suspended and is under investigation after doubts arose about his age.
GWR awarded Bobi, a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo, the title of the world’s oldest dog at 31 years and 165 days, breaking a century-old record.
However, concerns raised by veterinarians prompted GWR to pause both the “oldest dog living” and “oldest dog ever” titles and launch a formal inquiry.
Wired magazine’s investigation discovered discrepancies in Bobi’s registration data on Portugal’s pet database, raising questions about the dog’s actual age.
While GWR initially validated Bobi’s age based on the Portuguese government’s pet database managed by the National Union of Veterinarians, skepticism grew within the veterinary community.
Danny Chambers, a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, stated, “Not a single one of my veterinary colleagues believe Bobi was actually 31 years old.”
GWR has temporarily halted applications for the titles pending the investigation’s completion.
Bobi, who lived with the Costa family in Conqueiros, near Portugal’s west coast, faced backlash and accusations that his life story was not genuine.
Owner Leonel Costa believes the skepticism arose due to his claim that Bobi’s longevity resulted from a diet similar to that of humans rather than traditional pet food, contrary to veterinary recommendations.
Costa emphasized that all information requested by GWR to validate Bobi’s age has been provided.
Australia’s Bluey held the previous record for the oldest dog ever, living to 29 years and passing away in 1939.
Source-BBC
