Guinness World Records revokes the title of the world's oldest dog Bobi, who died last year at the age of 31, after the vet gave him a flag that would have made him 200 in human years

Last October, the world mourned and celebrated the death and incredibly long life of Bobi, the world's record-breaking oldest dog, or so it seemed.

Bobi, a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo, died at his home in the village of Conqueiros, located near the west coast of Portugal.

The Guinness World Record holder died at the reported age of 31 years and 165 days old and was universally celebrated as the oldest dog to ever live, as he amassed the equivalent of 200 human years before passing away.

However, vets have now expressed doubts about Bobi's legitimate age, while others are beginning to wonder why there are photos of Bobi, supposedly in his younger years, with white paws, while in his final years the dog had brown paws .

All these suspicions have led to the Guinness World Record announcing that Bobi's crown as the official oldest dog has been temporarily suspended while an investigation is underway.

Vets have now expressed doubts about Bobi's legitimate age, while others wonder why there are photos of Bobi (pictured in 1999) supposedly in his younger years with white paws, while in his latter years the dog had brown paws.

A Guinness World Records spokeswoman said: 'While our review is still ongoing, we have decided to temporarily pause the record titles for both 'oldest living dog' and 'oldest dog ever' – until all our findings are known. '

It was widely reported that the dog's age had been officially verified by a Portuguese government database.

However, an investigation led by Wired magazine found that Bobi was registered on the system in 2022, just a year before his death.

Bobi's owner, Leonel Costa, stated that the dog was born in 1992 when Leonel was just eight years old.

Costa says his parents had too many animals and had no choice but to euthanize the litter of puppies before Bobi apparently escaped.

Costa claims that he and his brothers kept the dog's existence a secret from their parents until the pup was eventually discovered and became part of the family.

Costa attributed Bobi's long life to his diet consisting of unseasoned human food and to the dog's freedom to roam free through the forests and farmlands.

Despite this claim, a database official said there was “no record or data to confirm or deny this.”

This potential scandal has blown the entire conversation about dog records out of the water.

Bobi's owner, Leonel Costa, stated that the dog was born in 1992 when Leonel was just eight years old. In the photo: Bobi on February 4, 2023

Bobi in 1999 with white legs. A Guinness World Records spokeswoman said: 'While our review is ongoing, we have decided to temporarily pause the record titles for both 'oldest living dog' and 'oldest dog ever' – until all our findings are known.”

On paper, it looks like the next oldest dog to claim the title will go to a 24-year-old Chihuahua named Spike from Ohio.

Spike's owner, Rita Kimball, had previously provided Guinness World Records with veterinary records and bills showing the dog was born in 1999.

The owner also provided the Guinness World Records with photos of the dog aging throughout its long life.

This would mean that Spike will have the opportunity to reclaim the title he briefly held in early 2023 at the then age of 23 years and seven days old, before Bobi took him up on it.

However, Kimball acknowledges that she hasn't had Spike since he was born, when she discovered him in a parking lot in 2009 before taking him to his forever home.

A veterinarian then assessed the Chihuahua and predicted he would be about ten years old.

The Guinness World Records told Kimball: “We are currently investigating how we verify animal age data.”

The organization then requested that a second veterinarian be arranged to assess the dog and determine its age.

Bobi's death was announced on social media on October 23 by a veterinarian who met Bobi several times.

Dr. Karen Becker wrote, “Despite outliving every dog ​​in history, his 11,478 days on earth would never be enough for those who loved him.”

That same day, Kimball wrote a letter to the organization asking what it should do to find out if Spike, who is still alive, had regained the title of oldest dog in the world.

For now, the Guinness World Record's review of Bobi's title will continue, casting Bobi's legitimacy for the title under a cloud of suspicion.