The world's oldest dog ever has died at the age of 31 years and 165 days.
Guinness World Record holder Bobi, a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo, passed away at his home in Portugal on Saturday.
His death was announced on social media by a veterinarian who met Bobi several times.
"Despite outliving every dog in history, his 11,478 days on earth would never be enough, for those who loved him," wrote Dr Karen Becker.
Bobi became both the world's oldest living dog and the oldest dog ever in February - beating an almost century-old record for the latter title.
The previous oldest dog ever was Australia's Bluey, who died in 1939 at the age of 29 years and five months.
Bobi's grand old age was validated by the Portuguese government's pet database, which is managed by the National Union of Veterinarians.
The identity of Bobi's successor to the title of world's oldest living dog has not yet been revealed.
Bobi lived his whole life with the Costa family in the village of Conqueiros, near Portugal's west coast, after being born with three siblings in an outbuilding.
Leonel Costa, who was eight years old at the time, said his parents had too many animals and had to put the puppies down, but Bobi escaped.
Mr Costa and his brothers kept the dog's existence a secret from their parents until he was eventually discovered and became part of the family, who fed him the same food they eat.
Apart from a scare in 2018 when he was hospitalised after suddenly collapsing due to breathing difficulty, Mr Costa said in February that Bobi had enjoyed a relatively trouble-free life and thought the secret to his longevity was the "calm, peaceful environment" he lived in.
However, he had experienced trouble walking and worsening eyesight prior to his death.
Bobi was not the only dog owned by the Mr Costa to live a long life. Bobi's mother lived to the age of 18 while another of the family's dogs died at the age of 22.
Bobi, world's oldest ever dog dies aged 31
posted on 23/10/23
Got three dugs myself and will be gutted when any of them go so the owner must have fair built up a load of love over all they years, sad to hear no matter what age they are
posted on 23/10/23
His death was announced on social media by a veterinarian who met Bobi several times.
"Despite outliving every dog in history, his 11,478 days on earth would never be enough, for those who loved him," wrote Dr Karen Becker.
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Really beautiful quote, always cherish the time that you have with your pets.
posted on 23/10/23
comment by BraveheartTyke (U6173)
posted 1 minute ago
His death was announced on social media by a veterinarian who met Bobi several times.
"Despite outliving every dog in history, his 11,478 days on earth would never be enough, for those who loved him," wrote Dr Karen Becker.
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Really beautiful quote, always cherish the time that you have with your pets.
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defo
posted on 23/10/23
Bobi <rip>
Gone to that great lampost in the sky.
posted on 23/10/23
Before tonight’s game they will paws for a minutes silence 🦮
RIP
posted on 23/10/23
as long as he's not that little hound dog that dug my roses up !
posted on 23/10/23
Gone fur too early
posted on 23/10/23
I lost my labs at 15 and 13. That's heartbreaking enough as they were with me through childhood, teens and into my late 20's. But to lose one that you owned for 31 years but be absolutely devastating, almost like losing a family member. I'm 33 and that puts the brilliant little dogs life in perspective for me.
posted on 23/10/23
I was thinking about that too Shaun.
From the owner's social media I can tell how much Bobi meant to him. Bobi passed away on Saturday and he is yet to comment. I bet he is absolutely devastated, I really feel for him. He was 8 years old when Bobi came into his life, he is now almost 40.
Sorry to hear about your labs, glad to hear they reached good ages.
posted on 24/10/23
RIP Bobi
Seriously how great are dogs?!