Guinness World Records Revokes “Oldest Dog Ever” Title from Bobi After Evidence Review
Credit: Envato Elements
He May No Longer be the Oldest Dog but He Will Always be a Good Dog
Guinness World Records (GWR) has officially stripped Bobi, a Portuguese dog, of the “oldest dog ever” title posthumously after an extensive investigation into the evidence for Bobi’s age. This announcement comes after Bobi’s owner celebrated the honor in February 2023 following the dog’s passing in October 2023 at the age of 31.
“We take tremendous pride in ensuring the accuracy and integrity of all our record titles,” stated Mark McKinley, the director of records at GWR. “After reviewing Bobi’s information, including microchip data and statements from a veterinarian, we found no conclusive evidence to definitively prove Bobi’s date of birth.”
“Without any conclusive evidence available, we cannot maintain Bobi as the record holder and adhere to the high standards we set ourselves,” McKinley concluded.
Bobi was celebrated as the “oldest dog ever” in January but had the title suspended after an investigation raised concerns about the validity of the dog’s age. Wired’s investigation found discrepancies in the verification process, with the Portuguese government’s pet database and the Veterinary Medical Service of the Municipality of Leiria stating they were not contacted to verify the information.
Additionally, a council member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons expressed doubts about Bobi’s reported age, and photos showed discrepancies in the appearance of Bobi’s paws over the years.
Leonel Costa, Bobi’s owner, and a veterinarian told CNN that Bobi belonged to the Rafeiro do Alentejo breed, which has a life expectancy of about 12-14 years.
McKinley concluded his statement by emphasizing that future record-holding dogs will need comprehensive evidence for all years of their life, including consultation with veterinarians and verification through microchip data.
