He experienced a decline in eyesight and mobility as he aged.
Bobi, the world’s oldest dog, passed away at 31 years and 165 days. The news is according to an announcement from Guinness World Records (GWR) on October 23.
Veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker shared the news of Bobi’s passing on Facebook.
She captioned the post, “Despite outliving every dog in history, his 11,478 days on earth would never be enough, for those who loved him. When we asked Leonel what his recipe was for Bobi’s exceptionally long life, his response was swift: ‘Good nutrition, constant contact with nature, freedom to discover his environment, consistent veterinary care, and love. Bobi knows he’s deeply loved.’”
Bobi’s incredible old age is due to several factors, as his owner, Leonel Costa, explained to GWR. The Rafeiro do Alentejo, a purebred livestock guardian dog, lived leash-free in a tranquil environment in the small Portuguese village of Conqueiros, approximately 93 miles north of Lisbon.
His diet consisted of human food soaked in water to remove seasonings.
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While the American Kennel Club has a life expectancy of 12-14 years for Rafeiro do Alentejos, Bobi exceeded that projection by more than twice, setting new records for the oldest living dog and the oldest dog ever. The title was before held by Australian cattle-dog Bluey, who lived for 29 years and five months.
According to GWR, Bobi celebrated his 31st birthday in May, attended by over 100 people and a performing dance troupe.
Bobi experienced a decline in his eyesight and mobility as he aged, but he continued to share his days with the village’s cats and enjoyed moments of rest by the fire.
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Leonel Costa spoke affectionately about Bobi, “Bobi is special because looking at him is like remembering the people who were part of our family and unfortunately are no longer here, like my father, my brother, or my grandparents who have already left this world. Bobi represents those generations.”
Banner Image Paulo Correa
