World's Oldest Dog's Title Temporarily Suspended As Investigations Into Age Launched
- Bobi, a Rafeiro do Alentejo dog, made global headlines after being officially named the world's oldest by the Guinness World Records (GWR)
- The title has, however, been suspended temporarily as GWR undertakes investigations into the dog's actual age
- In the wake of the suspension, Bobi's owner, Leonel Costa, accused "an elite within the veterinary world" of trying to discredit his dog's age
The Guinness World Records (GWR) has suspended the title of the world's oldest dog,' a Portuguese canine named Bobi.
Source: UGC
Bobi made global headlines in 2023 when GWR officially recognized him as the oldest dog ever, surpassing a record that had stood for a century.
Veterinarians doubted title
The canine passed away in October 2023 at the age of 31 and 165 days, but he left questions about his age unanswered.
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BBC News reports that Bobi's title was questioned by veterinarians who raised concerns about the evidence supporting his age.
The breed, Rafeiro do Alentejo, typically has an average life expectancy of 12 to 14 years, making Bobi's longevity extraordinary.
Last year, GWR validated Bobi's age by referencing the Portuguese government's pet database, managed by the National Union of Veterinarians.
Discrepancies spotted through photos
However, suspicions began to arise as news of his record spread, leading to an investigation by the Wired magazine.
The probe uncovered discrepancies in Bobi's registration on Portugal's pet database, showing he was born in 1992 but had no concrete registration data to confirm this information.
Furthermore, doubts were raised regarding old photographs of Bobi, with some alleging discrepancies in the markings on his fur.
That fueled speculation that the dog in question might not be the same as the record-holder.
Bobi's age questionable
Reports revealed that dogs born before 2008 in Portugal were not required to be registered until October 2020, potentially leaving a gap in documentation for Bobi's birth year.
Tests conducted to determine Bobi's actual age were inconclusive, revealing that he was undeniably old without providing an exact age.
Some veterinarians also expressed scepticism, pointing to changes in the colour of Bobi's paws over the years as evidence that he may not be as old as claimed.
"Not a single one of my veterinary colleagues believe Bobi was actually 31 years old," Danny Chambers, a vet and member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, remarked.
GWR suspends title
This scepticism has prompted Guinness World Records to take action.
The formal investigation aims to shed light on the controversy surrounding Bobi's title and ensure the integrity of the Guinness World Records.
"While our review is ongoing, we have decided to temporarily pause applications on both the record titles for oldest dog living and (oldest dog) ever until all of our findings are in place," read an official statement by a GWR spokesperson.
Bobi's owner unhappy
Bobi's owner, Leonel Costa, issued a statement accusing "an elite within the veterinary world" of trying "to give people the idea that Bobi's life story was not true".
Mr Costa believes his pet received the backlash because he attributed his long life to eating a diet similar to that of humans instead of pet food.
"Everything would be different if we had said he ate pet food for three decades," a furious Costa said.
He maintained that Bobi met everything GWR had requested to validate his age.
The world's oldest hen died on Christmas
Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh reported that a hen that lived to be 21 died on Christmas Day in 2023, leaving her owner completely heartbroken.
The hen, named Peanut, belonged to Marsi Darwin, a woman from Michigan who announced the sad death of the chicken on her blog.
Her mother abandoned Peanut, and she was peeled out of the egg by Marsi, who kept her and looked after her for 21 years.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
Geraldine Amoah (Entertainment editor) Geraldine Amoah is an Entertainment Editor at YEN.com.gh. She pursued Business Administration at Ashesi University and graduated in 2020. She has over 3 years of experience in journalism. Geraldine's professional career in journalism started at Myjoyonline at Multimedia Group Limited, where she worked as a writer. You can reach out to her at geraldine.amoah@yen.com.gh.
Berlinda Entsie (Copy Editor) Berlinda Entsie is a Copy Editor at YEN.com.gh. She has worked as a proofreader and editor since 2016. Berlinda has over 5 years' experience editing and writing for leading publications in Ghana. She previously worked with Graphic Communications Group LTD, Business Insider SSA and Pulse.com.gh. She obtained a B.A in English Studies from the Methodist University College in 2016 and a Diploma in Broadcast Journalism from the GH Media School in 2019. Reach out to her via berlinda.entsie@yen.com.gh
