Good boy: World's oldest dog ever dies at age 31

If all dogs do go to heaven, there’s a comfy cloud waiting for Bobi, the oldest dog EVER who passed away on the weekend at his home in Portugal.

Bobi, the purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo, died at the grand old age of 31 years and 165 days and spent his entire life with his loving owner Leonel Costa and his family in the Portuguese village of Conqueiros.

“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, the veterinarian who announced his death.

You might also like:

Bobi achieved the title of both the world’s oldest living dog and the oldest dog ever back in February, surpassing a century-old record. The previous titleholder, Australia’s Bluey, had reached the age of 29 years and five months before passing away in 1939.

Bobi’s story is as heartwarming as it is impressive. Born into a litter of four puppies, Leonel’s family already owned too many animals and the parents decided not to keep them.

Expecting a darker fate as a puppy, Bobi was hidden amongst a pile of wood stored in the outbuilding where he was born, so Leonel’s parents didn’t spot him. Bobi was soon discovered by Leonel and his brothers, who kept the puppy’s existence a secret, according to the Guinness World Records.

When the Leonel parents eventually became aware of Bobi, it was too late to put him down, so Bobi became a part of the family.

Guinness World Records

He became a cherished member of the Costa family and was embraced with love. He dined on the same food as his human companions, which, evidently, did wonders for his longevity.

While Bobi enjoyed a relatively trouble-free life, with a “calm, peaceful environment” as his secret to longevity, he did face challenges as he aged. His health scare in 2018 led to a hospitalization after he suddenly collapsed due to breathing difficulties. Still, he bounced back and continued his incredible journey.

Bobi had many fans around the globe – as evidenced by more than 100 people who showed up to his 31st birthday party.

For those keeping score at home, 31 years old is 137 in human years.

Guinness World Records

As his years advanced, Bobi experienced difficulty walking and worsening eyesight. Remarkably, Bobi’s mother lived to the impressive age of 18, and another of the family’s dogs reached the age of 22.

Age is just a number, folks. Rest in peace. Good boy.