Bobby the dog, who died a few months ago at the age of 31, was considered the oldest dog in history, a title awarded by the Guinness Book of World Records. However, doubts soon arose about the dog’s age, so an official check was launched.
This was reported by the Washington Post.
The Guinness Book of World Records confirmed that it has begun an “official review” of Bobby’s title and has “temporarily suspended” applications for both the oldest living dog and the oldest dog in history. During the investigation, Guinness representatives will review old evidence, collect new information and talk to experts.
In early 2023, Bobby, who lived in Portugal, was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest dog in the world. Nine months later, died, reportedly at the age of 31 years and 165 days.
After Bobby’s death, the Guinness Book of World Records published an obituary of sorts in memory of his 11,478 days of life – an amazing length of time for the Portuguese Rafeiro do Alentejo breed, which guards livestock and usually lives 12-14 years.
But soon doubts arose about his age. A few days after the obituary, English veterinarian Danny Chambers, a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, said that “none of his veterinary colleagues believe that Bobby was actually 31 years old. According to him, this is equivalent to the age of a person who would live more than 200 years.
“Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, and so far no concrete evidence has been provided,” Chambers said.
A few weeks later, Wired magazine wrote that the Portuguese government’s pet database confirmed that Bobby’s owner had only registered the dog in July 2022. Although he claimed at the time that the dog was born in 1992, he did not provide any evidence.
More about Bobby
The Portuguese Mastiff died on October 21, 2023, in the Portuguese village of Conqueiros, where he lived his entire life with Leonel Costa and his family.
Costa said that at birth, Bobby and his three siblings were considered “superfluous” and placed in a shallow grave, with plans to bury them alive. But eight-year-old Leonel and his brothers intervened and rescued the dogs, taking them for themselves.
Bobby’s owner claimed that one of the main reasons for the dog’s longevity was the calm and peaceful environment he lived in, “far away from cities.”. Costa also explained that his dog was never chained or tied to a leash. He always enjoyed roaming freely in the forests and farmland surrounding the family home.
