Bobi, world’s oldest dog on record, dies in Portugal, age 31

By Alyssa McMurtry

OVIEDO, Spain (AA) - Bobi, the world’s oldest dog on record, died in Portugal this weekend, the Guinness Book of World Records confirmed on Monday.

He was 31 years and 165 days old and passed away surrounded by his family in the village of Conqueiros, where he lived since 1992.

His owner Leonel Costa said he was being treated for “internal problems” but did not survive.

“It was a tough fight and only a warrior like him could have lasted this long,” his owner Leonel Costa told Portuguese broadcaster SIC Noticias.

And even though the dog had lived longer than any other, his death was still a heart-wrenching loss for the family.

"What remains are the best memories of a long life where he was happy and made a lot of people happy too — especially his family who now feel that one of the pillars in their lives has collapsed," said Costa.

Dr. Karen Becker, a veterinarian who met him several times agreed, posting on Facebook: “Despite outliving every dog in history, his 11,478 days on earth would never be enough, for those who loved him.”

She recalled his secret to longevity consisting of “good nutrition, constant contact with nature, freedom to discover his environment, consistent veterinary care, and love.”

Bobi’s story was also one of sheer luck.

The Guinness Book of World Records recounts how the dog was part of an unwanted litter that was going to be exterminated. However, he was accidentally left behind when his siblings were taken away. The children in the family, including eight-year-old Leonel Costa, realized he was forgotten and hid him so their parents could not find him.

When the parents discovered the children had been hiding Bobi, it was too late to put him down, so they begrudgingly took him in as a pet.

“They screamed a lot and punished us, but it was worth it, and for a good reason!” Costa told the Guinness Book of World Records.

Costa added that Bobi was never put on a chain or leash and always roamed freely around the area. Once the dog was less mobile, he stayed closer to home, socializing with his feline friends.

Costa also said that he only ate human food that would be soaked in water to remove the seasoning. “What we ate, they ate too,” he said.

Bobi also had good genetics. His mother lived until she was 18 and a sibling died at 22. Bobi was a Rafeiro do Alentejo, a Portuguese breed that typically lives 12 to 14 years.

The previous oldest dog ever on record was Bluey from Australia, who died in 1939 at the age of 29 years and five months.

The new oldest living dog has yet to be revealed.