The World’s Oldest Dog Just Celebrated His 31st Birthday With a Party This Week
A dog in Portugal named Bobi celebrated his 31st birthday this week.
The purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo, a breed that’s native to Portugal, was dubbed the world’s oldest dog by Guinness World Records.
His owner, 38-year-old Leonel Costa, was just eight years old when Bobi was born. Now, he sees him as a symbol of everybody in his life who is no longer with him.
The happy ‘tail’ of how Bobi made it to 31
According to the Veterinary Medical Service of the Municipality of Leiria, Bobi was born on May 11, 1992.
Unlike other dogs, he’s lived a happy life surrounded by nature at his owner’s sprawling property in a Portuguese village called Conqueiros. Bobi’s owner also takes in older dogs who need care. However, none of them have lived as long as he has.
Here’s a video of him courtesy of Guinness World Records:
The reason Costa’s dogs live longer than most is due in part to the owner’s insistence on feeding them only human food and never putting them on a leash. Bobi gets fresh meats and fish instead of traditional dog food and has the freedom to roam wherever he’d like.
“We see situations like this as a normal result of the life that they have, but Bobi is one of a kind,” Costa said to ABC News. Adding he also grew up around a lot of other dogs and his ability to socialize with other animals contributes to his wellbeing.
Bobi’s birthday party was a big blowout
Over 100 people attended Bobi’s 31st birthday party. The dog, along with all of his guests, ate fresh meat and fish. There was even a dance routine he participated in, despite his age making it difficult for him to walk sometimes.
However, for Costa, the party wasn’t just a celebration of Bobi. The dog’s owner also sees him as a symbol of those who could not attend the party.
“Looking at him is like remembering the people who were part of our family and unfortunately are no longer here,” Costa said. “Like my father, my brother, or my grandparents who have already left this world.”
He added, “Bobi represents those generations.”
The 31-year-old pup surpassed the last ‘World’s Oldest Dog’
Soon after his 29th birthday, Bobi officially became the World’s Oldest Dog, replacing an Australian Cattle Dog named Bluey who lived from 1910 to 1939.
Of the top 10 oldest dogs in recorded history, four of them are still alive today. Besides Bobi, the list of the oldest dogs includes 23-year-old Spike, 22-year-old Gino and 21-year-old TobyKeith. Besides Bobi, they are all Chihuahuas or Chihuahua mixes.
Bobi mostly enjoys lying around the house, eating and being with his owners. His eyesight has deteriorated and Costa says his favorite activity now is sleeping. Still, he’s very healthy and we hope he can celebrate his 32nd birthday party.
