World’s oldest dog Bobi dies aged 31 after owners held huge bash to celebrate his birthday

THE world’s oldest dog has died at the age of 31, it is reported.

Bobi – a Portuguese mastiff – lived at a family-run farm for his entire life in Leiria, Portugal.

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In February, he broke a record held by Australian cattle-dog Bluey, who was 29 years and five months when he died in 1939.

He also took the record for the oldest living dog — having been held for just two weeks by 23-year-old chihuahua Spike, from Ohio.

The news of Bobi’s death was announced on Facebook by American veterinarian Dr Karen Becker on Monday morning.

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

She met Bobi in February after he became the world’s oldest living dog.

There has not yet been any official comment from Bobi’s owner Leonel Costa.

He held a huge birthday party for Bobi on May 11 in Conqueiros in Portugal’s Leiria district – where he was born.

Local meat and fish were served up to more than 100 guests – with extra for Bobi who only eats human food.

Bobi’s age was understood to have been verified by his vet and a pet database authorised by the Portuguese government.

Leonel Costa, now 38, was only eight when Bobi was born in an outhouse where his family stored wood.

He said when Bobi turned 31: “Bobi has been a warrior for all these years, only he knows how he's been holding on, it must not be easy because the average dog's life span is not that high and if he spoke only he could explain this success.

‘We are very happy and grateful to life for allowing us, after 30 years, to have Bobi in our daily lives.”

He attributed Bobi's long life to the “calm, peaceful environment he lives in, his diet of human food and his freedom”.

Alongside a photo of the record-breaking pooch, the owner of a Lisbon-based pet photography studio said: “Rest in peace friend.

“Thank you for having had the privilege of meeting you, the oldest dog in the world. What an amazing life you had.”

Bobi reportedly survived being put down by Leonel’s dad along with his two brothers shortly after birth because he escaped.

He was never chained up or put on a leash – and his long age was also linked to his genes.

Bobi’s mother Gira lived to the age of 18 and another of the family’s dogs, Chicote, made it to the age of 22.

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