WORLD’S OLDEST DOG TURNS 31

The world’s oldest dog turned 31 years old this week. Bobi is a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo – a Portuguese breed – born May 11, 1992. He has been named the “oldest living dog” by Guinness World Records. While his birthday was Thursday, Bobi’s birthday will be celebrated on Saturday with a party in the village of Conqueiros, in Portugal. His owner, 38-year-old Leonel Costa says 100 fans and friends will be stopping by. (* That’s a lot of butts for Bobi to sniff at his age.) The Rafeiro do Alentejos breed is a livestock watchdog with an average lifespan of 12 years old. Bobi has an appropriately tragic backstory: Costa says his father was a hunter, and they always had a lot of dogs. But when Bobi’s mother had a litter, Costa’s parents took the puppies and buried them in a hole so that they would not survive, a practice that was common in the old days. (* The 1990’s?) Costa and his brothers noticed the mama dog kept returning to the shed where she gave birth. They followed her and discovered that their parents had unknowingly left one behind. That was Bobi. Once the secret of Bobi’s existence was out to Costa’s family, it was too late — he had opened his eyes and dad couldn’t get rid of him. Bobi became part of the family. Costa noted that, as Bobi turns 31, his father is no longer alive.
* Are you sure? Check the shed.
* A live well lived is the best revenge, eh, Bobi?
* Bobi will be getting his usual birthday gifts: a butt scratch and an animal carcass to roll in.