Current:Home > StocksBobi was named world’s oldest dog by Guinness. Now his record is under review.-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
Bobi was named world’s oldest dog by Guinness. Now his record is under review.
View Date:2024-12-23 20:04:28
There’s a chance that the world’s oldest dog may not be able to keep his Guinness World Record title for much longer.
The authority for all things world-record-breaking said Tuesday that they were conducting a formal review into the oldest dog record, which was awarded to a 31-year-old Rafeiro do Alentejo named Bobi from Portugal in February of 2023, Guinness spokesperson Amanda Marcus shared with USA TODAY Tuesday.
Bobi died about eight months later, USA TODAY previously reported.
The review was launched in response to a number of veterinarians expressing skepticism over Bobi’s age, the Associated Press reported.
The statement from Guinness said the publication is “reviewing evidence we have on file, seeking new evidence, reaching out to experts and those linked to the original application.”
Here’s what we know.
Who is Bobi?
Bobi spent his whole life in rural Portuguese village Conqueiros, about 93 miles north of the country’s capital, with his owner Leonel Costa and his family, USA TODAY previously reported.
Costa’s father decided that they could not care for the litter of four puppies Bobi was born into, as they already had too many animals to care for. So, they decided to do away with the litter.
“Unfortunately, at that time it was considered normal by older people ... to bury the animals in a hole so that they would not survive,” Costa shared with Guinness.
Costa and his brothers were able to find Bobi alive nearby. He was lucky enough to escape, hiding in a pile of wood at their home.
The siblings kept the puppy’s existence a secret for as long as they could but when the boys' parents discovered Bobi was alive, "it was too late to put him down, so Bobi became a part of the family,” Guinness reported.
Bobi led a life full of love and celebration despite the rocky start.
His family threw the senior dog a “a lavish birthday party” with than 100 guests to celebrate his 31st birthday. Bobi died about 165 days after his birthday celebration.
He was described by his owner as "one of a kind" – adding that his family was "very happy and grateful to life for allowing us, after 30 years, to have Bobi in our daily lives."
Can Frosty the cat find a new home?He's '28.5lbs of pudge with a side of crankiness':
What will happen to Bobi’s Guiness World Record title?
Whether Bobi will continue to be known as the world’s oldest dog depends on the outcome of the review.
His age was independently verified and confirmed by a couple of agencies previously, including Guinness and the Sistema de Informação de Animais de Companhia, a database for pets authorized by the Portuguese government and managed by Sindicato Nacional dos Médicos Veterinários, the country's national union of veterinarians.
The average lifespan for a dog like Bobi, the Rafeiro do Alentejo is 12 and 14 years, Guinness reported.
No action has been taken in relation to any record holders yet and any actions will be determined by the outcome of the review, Marcus said.
Guinness has also decided to “temporarily pause applications" on records for both the oldest living dog and the oldest dog ever "until all of our findings are in place and have been communicated.”
Contributing: Natalie Alund
More Bobi:World's oldest dog ever, dies at age 31
veryGood! (72)
Related
- Missing Ole Miss student declared legally dead as trial for man accused in his death looms
- USA men's basketball vs Brazil live updates: Start time, how to watch Olympic quarterfinal
- How Lahaina’s more than 150-year-old banyan tree is coming back to life after devastating fire
- Dozens of earthquakes in SoCal: Aftershocks hit following magnitude 5.2 quake
- Lunchables get early dismissal: Kraft Heinz pulls the iconic snack from school lunches
- Devin Booker performance against Brazil latest example of Team USA's offensive depth
- Pakistani man with ties to Iran is charged in plot to carry out political assassinations on US soil
- Paris Olympics highlights: Gabby Thomas, Cole Hocker golds lead USA's banner day at track
- Rafael dissolves into a low pressure system in the Gulf of Mexico after hitting Cuba as a hurricane
- The Latest: Harris and Walz kick off their 2024 election campaign
Ranking
- Get Your Home Holiday-Ready & Decluttered With These Storage Solutions Starting at $14
- Save an Extra 20% on West Elm Sale Items, 60% on Lounge Underwear, 70% on Coach Outlet & More Deals
- A judge has branded Google a monopolist, but AI may bring about quicker change in internet search
- 2024 Olympics: Why Simone Biles Addressed MyKayla Skinner's Comments Amid Win
- See Megan Fox, Machine Gun Kelly, Brian Austin Green and Sharna Burgess' Blended Family Photos
- The Latest: Harris and Walz kick off their 2024 election campaign
- Former national park worker in Mississippi pleads guilty to theft
- Extreme heat is impacting most Americans’ electricity bills, AP-NORC poll finds
Recommendation
-
Rare Alo Yoga Flash Sale: Don’t Miss 60% Off Deals With Styles as Low as $5
-
A judge has branded Google a monopolist, but AI may bring about quicker change in internet search
-
49-year-old skateboarder Dallas Oberholzer makes mom proud at Paris Olympics
-
Kamala Harris' vice president pick Tim Walz has a history of Taylor Swift, Beyoncé fandom
-
Brianna LaPaglia Reacts to Rumors Dave Portnoy Paid Her $10 Million for a Zach Bryan Tell-All
-
Keira Knightley Shares Daughter’s Dyslexia Diagnosis in Rare Family Update
-
Federal indictment accuses 15 people of trafficking drugs from Mexico and distributing in Minnesota
-
Dozens of sea lions in California sick with domoic acid poisoning: Are humans at risk?