In February 2023, the Guinness World Data introduced that it had discovered the world’s oldest dwelling canine and the oldest canine ever recorded.
Bobi, a Rafeiro do Alentejo in Portugal, was bestowed the accolade on the staggering age of, based on his proprietor, 30.
Bobi then died in October, making him 31 years outdated on the time. However the Guinness World Data is now placing his title on maintain amid a wave of questions over the legitimacy of his declare.
“Whereas our evaluation is ongoing, now we have determined to briefly pause purposes on each the document titles for oldest canine dwelling and ever till all of our findings are in place and have been communicated,” a spokesperson informed the Related Press in a Tuesday report.
Certainly, dwelling to 31 would have made Bobi the canine equal of round 170 years outdated, per the American Veterinary Medical Affiliation’s calculating strategies.
Canine of his breed have a life expectancy of 12 to 14 years.
Bobi’s proprietor, Leonal Costa, informed the Guinness World Data he credited Bobi’s longevity to a food regimen of human meals and by no means being chained up or leashed.
Nonetheless, observers say there are discrepancies in photographs of Bobi from 1999 — when he would have been 7 — and 2022, noting that his paws are in another way coloured within the outdated and new pictures.
Bobi’s purported age was additionally challenged by Danny Chambers, a council member of the Royal School of Veterinary Surgeons, who informed The Guardian that “not a single considered one of my veterinary colleagues consider Bobi was truly 31 years outdated.”
Chambers’ group is a regulatory physique within the UK that oversees 1000’s of veterinary practices.
Bobi’s age is registered in Portugal’s authorities database, which Guinness World Data mentioned it checked earlier than giving out the award.
Nonetheless, an investigation by WIRED reported that an official mentioned the database entry was primarily based on info supplied by Costa, the canine’s proprietor. The outlet wrote a number of occasions that Costa didn’t reply to its questions.
Bobi’s document got here simply after Spike, a 23-year-old Chihuahua, was named the oldest dwelling canine by the Guinness World Data. Two weeks after Spike’s document was introduced, Bobi dethroned the Chihuahua.
Per the AP, Guinness World Data’s spokesperson mentioned the group was conscious of the general public skepticism towards Bobi’s document and that it acquired notes from veterinarians involved in regards to the validity of his declare.
They informed The Guardian that Bobi’s title was suspended, not taken away from him, as “no motion has been taken about any document holders but.”
If Bobi’s document is stripped from him, the accolade of the world’s oldest-ever canine would return to Bluey, an Australian cattle canine who lived to 29 years and 5 months outdated from 1910 to 1939, per the Guinness World Data.
The Guinness World Data’ press group didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark despatched outdoors common enterprise hours.
