Bobi, a 31-year-old guard dog who cheated death in his first days, has celebrated his birthday as a celebrity in central Portugal after being declared the world's oldest dog ever two months ago.
Bobi's owner Leonel Costa told Guinness World Records a big traditional Portuguese birthday party was planned for Bobi on Saturday at his home in the rural village of Conqueiros, where Bobi has lived his entire life.
More than 100 people, some travelling from overseas, are due to attend the festivities which will include plenty of local food and a dance troupe which Bobi will dance with.
When he was recognised by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest dog on February 1, he broke a nearly century-old record previously held by Bluey, an Australian cattle dog who died in 1939 at the age of 29 years and five months.
A purebreed Rafeiro, a Portuguese livestock guard dog whose normal life expectancy is between 12 and 14, Bobi was not supposed to live at all, never mind make it this long.
He was born on May 11, 1992, along with three other pups in a wood storage shed owned by the Costa family.
Because the family owned so many animals, the father decided they couldn't keep the newborn puppies and the parents took them from the shed the next day, while the mother dog Gira was out, said Mr Costa, who was eight years old at the time.
But they didn't realise they had left one puppy behind — his colouring made him blend in with the surrounding wood.
A secret existence
Mr Costa and his sister were heartbroken the puppies were being killed.
But then they noticed Gira kept returning to the shed, had a look and discovered the surviving puppy.
They decided to keep his existence a secret until he could open his eyes.
"We knew they wouldn't do anything to him then and that Bobi would remain with us. So we kept the secret," Mr Costa told AFP.
"Afterwards, we were punished, but it was worth it," he said.
Life has been hectic for Bobi since he was awarded his Guinness World Records titles in February.
"We've had a lot of journalists and people come from all over the world to take a picture with Bobi," Mr Costa said.
"They've come from all over Europe, as well as the USA and even Japan."
Mr Costa attributes Bobi's longevity to the tranquillity of country living and his human diet, which includes lots of meat and fish.
"He has always eaten what we eat," he said.
He has never been chained up or put on a leash and used to roam the woods around the village.
Today walking has become difficult, so he spends most of the time hanging out in the yard with cats or napping after meals.
Many of the Costa dogs have lived a long life. Bobi's mother Gira lived to 18 years and another dog lived to 22.
"We see situations like this as a normal result of the life they have, but Bobi is one of a kind," Mr Costa told Guinness.
Bobi's eyesight has gotten worse too, which means he often bumps into things when he walks.
Just like old-aged humans, Bobi sleeps a lot. He immediately lies down in bed after eating, although on cold days he chooses to nap by the fire.
Mr Costa said Bobi was a living reminder of the past.
"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," he told Guinness.
"Bobi represents those generations."
ABC/AFP
