Bobi had been named the oldest dog in the world in February 2023 and enjoyed only a few months of his title before his death in October. But was Bobi truly the oldest canine the planet has ever seen?
Nothing is certain after an investigation was opened, leading to the suspension of his title by Guinness World Records.
Despite Guinness previously confirming his age at 31 years and 165 days, the organisation has now decided to take a step back and question this record.
A temporary suspension
Following several comments from internet users who found inconsistencies in the old photos of the animal, the Guinness organisation launched investigations. Some people notably pointed out that the dog had different coloured paws in photos dating back to 1999.
Even though Bobi was registered with the age corresponding to his record in Portugal's veterinary database, it turns out that this information relied solely on the owners' statements, and no official document allowed verification of the dog's exact date of birth. Furthermore, before pronouncing Bobi's record, the Guinness World Records had never verified this information with the relevant veterinary database.
Asked about his dog's longevity, his owner, Leonel Costa, explained that it was a combination of the calm environment in which the animal lived and a diet based on homemade portions of fish and meat. To date, he has not yet reacted to the suspension of his pet's record.
Impossible age for some experts
For Danny Chambers, a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in the UK, it is impossible for Bobi to have reached such an advanced age, and he even asserts that none of his 18,000 colleagues believes in this scenario. After a DNA test was conducted on the animal, it was confirmed that Bobi was particularly old, but the results couldn't corroborate with certainty the information provided by his owners. A year ago, a veterinarian from Lisbon had been questioned about this dog's case, and it seemed unlikely to him that Bobi was so old, explaining that he appeared to have no issues with his muscle mass and mobility.
While awaiting the conclusion of the investigations, poor Bobi will not see his title reinstated for the time being. Described as a calm and sociable dog, he certainly leaves his owners with a sweet memory that holds more importance than a record displayed in a frame.
