The World's Oldest Dog 'Bobi' Crosses the Rainbow Bridge After 31 Years and 165 Days

Portuguese Sheepdog 'Bobi' Passes Away on 21st
Recognized as Oldest Dog by Guinness World Records in February
Relatively Comfortable Life... "Secret to Longevity is Love"

Portugal's 'Bobby,' holder of the Guinness World Record for the oldest dog, passed away at the age of 31 years and 165 days.

Bobby, a male Hafeiro do Alentejo, a large livestock dog breed from Portugal, died on the 21st at the home where he lived with his owner Leonel Costa and others, the British Guardian reported on the 23rd (local time).

The world's oldest dog, Bobby, passed away on the 21st. [Image source=Photo by Dr. Karen Becker on Facebook]

Dr. Karen Becker, the veterinarian who cared for Bobby several times, posted on social media (SNS), "Last night, this adorable boy grew wings," along with a photo. Dr. Becker said, "For those who loved Bobby, the 11,478 days he lived will never be enough."

Born on May 11, 1992, Bobby was recognized by Guinness in February as the world's oldest dog, breaking the previous record held by Australia's 'Bluey,' who lived for 29 years and 5 months.

Bobby's age was verified through a government database managed by the Portuguese National Veterinary Association. Bobby's longevity is even more remarkable considering the average lifespan of his breed is about 12 to 14 years.

Bobby, recognized by Guinness in February as the world's oldest dog. [Image source=Guinness official website capture]

Bobby was born by cesarean section in the rural village of Conqueiros, Portugal, and lived with the Costa family, his owners. At that time, the Costa household had so many animals that elderly family members would bury puppies in pits when they were born. Because of this, Bobby was almost euthanized.

However, Bobby survived after being found hiding in a pile of firewood in an annex by 8-year-old Leonel Costa and his siblings, who secretly cared for him and eventually brought him into the family.

According to his owner, Bobby enjoyed a relatively comfortable life except for a hospital stay in 2018 due to breathing difficulties. However, before his death, he had difficulty walking and his eyesight deteriorated.

Dr. Becker explained, "When I asked Leonel about Bobby's secret to longevity, he replied, 'Good nutrition, contact with nature, the freedom to explore the environment, consistent care by a veterinarian, and love. Bobby knew he was very loved.'"

Bobby also appeared to have a 'longevity gene.' His mother lived to 18 years old, and another dog in the family reportedly lived to 22 years old.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.