Bobi, the world’s oldest dog living (and oldest dog ever!) is celebrating his birthday in Portugal, surrounded by family, friends, and hundreds of admirers, Guinness reports.
Born May 11, 1992—six months before Bill Clinton was elected president—the purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo turned 31 this year. The milestone will be marked with a party in the rural Portuguese village of Conqueiros, where Bobi has lived his entire life with his owner, Leonel Costa.
The “very traditional” celebration will include a feast of local meats and fish—with extra for the birthday boy, who only eats human food. A dance troupe is scheduled to perform, and Bobi is expected to participate in one of the dances, according to Guinness.
Costa, who was eight years old when the dog was born, says the “calm, peaceful environment” where Bobi lives has contributed to his longevity.
“Bobi is special because looking at him is like remembering the people who were part of our family and, unfortunately, are no longer here, like my father, my brother, or my grandparents, who have already left this world,” Costa says. “Bobi represents those generations.”
Described as a “very sociable” dog, Bobi grew up surrounded by many other animals. Additionally, throughout his life, the pooch has freely roamed the forests surrounding the Costa house and has never been chained or leashed.
Since reaching his senior years, though, Bobi prefers to hang out at home in the yard, Guinness reports.
Bobi’s birth date has been confirmed by Serviço Medico-Veterinário do Município de Leiria (Veterinary Medical Service of the Municipality of Leiria), which registered the pooch in 1992. Additionally, his age has been verified by SIAC, a pet database authorized by the Portuguese government and managed by the Sindicato Nacional dos Médicos Veterinários (SNMV) (National Union of Veterinarians).
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