When we adopt a dog, one thing that nobody thinks about is the fact that they will likely pass away long before any of us.
In the end, we will have to deal with this crushing loss, knowing that we will never see our beloved furry friends again, but hoping that they are in a better place.
So, some people try to do anything they can to prolong their best friend’s life, and they end up succeeding.
Today, we will talk about Bobi, a dog who held the title as the oldest dog in the world and who recently passed away.
A Rough Start
As the oldest in the world, Bobi was recognized by the Guinness World Records for being a dog who surpassed all others in longevity.
Well, what’s the secret to his outstandingly long life? It all has to do with the way he lived. First, however, we have to address how it all started.
When Bobi’s litter was first born in a small village, Bobi’s owner, Leonel Costa, wanted to keep the puppies for himself.
However, because it was different back then and a lot of families already had too many animals, Costa’s father decided that he couldn’t keep them.
Their plan was to get rid of them, but in a more callous way.
Costa told the Guinness World Records: Unfortunately, at that time it was considered normal by older people to bury the animals in a hole so that they would not survive.
After they were born, Costa’s father took the puppies away in the woods when their mom wasn’t there, and the children were upset by this realization.
However, they noticed that the mom, Gira, kept coming back to the shed where they stayed, despite her babies no longer being there.
The Costa brothers went to check it out just in case, and they were surprised to find one puppy hidden away.
This amazing dog was Bobi, and the brothers kept this secret until it was safe enough to let their family know.
The Secrets Of Longevity
When asked about it, Costa mostly contributed his dog’s incredible longevity to his simple lifestyle.
Bobi would eat unseasoned human food, was never tied to a leash, so he had the freedom to roam around as much as he wanted, and living in a quiet countryside had its benefits as well.
His birth date and longevity were all confirmed through official channels and the National Union of Veterinarians.
At one point, Bobi had even ousted a dog named Spike, who held the title of the oldest up until then.
His 31st birthday was a pretty big celebration, as at least a hundred guests came to show their appreciation for this beautiful dog.
It just goes to show how many people really loved and cared for this amazing dog.
Even though the family knew he was getting weaker as time went on, they were holding out hope that Bobi would still stay with them for a while.
However, that was not the case, as his long life was inevitably coming to an end. Bobi passed away on October 21st, 2023.
His family was devastated after he passed away, but deep down in their hearts, they knew that he had lived a very fulfilling life with people who loved him the most.
Karen Becker wrote in a Facebook post: Despite outliving every dog in history, his 11,478 days on Earth would never be enough for those who loved him.