World’s Oldest Dog Celebrates Another Birthday Milestone More Than 3 Decades in the Making

Dogs can live a long time, in dogs years. The average lifespan for your average, everyday, typical kind of dog is ten to thirteen years. Similar to humans, the length of their life depends on multiple factors, genetics, diet, lifestyle, and many other things.

I have a friend who calls his dog “the oldest dog ever,” he’s not, but that’s what he calls him. His dog, “Champ,” is 16 years old! That’s amazing, right, a 16-year-old dog? Champ is a slow walker and wobbles a little when he moves, but otherwise, he’s happy and sleeps most of the time.

However, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, Champ is just barely past middle-aged.

UPI reported that a dog named, “Bobi” who lives in Portugal is not only the world’s oldest living dog, he’s the oldest dog ever! Bobi was born on May 11, 1992, making him 31 years old, making him almost twice as old as Champ. And, not for nuthin’ but, there’s no way Champ is making it to 31.

Bobi is older than Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, Nick Jonas, and Miley Cyrus, but he’s not older than Snoop Dogg unless you measure his life in dog years. As a matter of fact, if we’re measuring Bobi in dog years, he’d be older than Abraham Lincoln, if Abe were still alive. He’s also more than 40 years older than the “Wizard of Menlo Park” Thomas Edison if Tom was still with us.

38-year-old Leonel Costa has owned Bobi since he was a puppy and is throwing a huge birthday party for him on Saturday to celebrate the amazing feat. Bobi's mother, who was also a pet of Costa, lived to be 18.

Costa got Bobi when he was 8 years old and said, "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."

Happy birthday, Bobi!

I don't have any pets right now, although I have had dogs, cats, ferrets, hamsters, fish, lizards, rabbits, guinea pigs, and more over the course of my life. I think dogs are my favorite, but I also love cats and am not interested in debating which is "better." I am, however, as everyone should be, an advocate for the proper and kind treatment of all animals.

Last week American Humane celebrated the oldest commemorative week in United States history. It was the 108th "Be Kind to Animals Week." Animal lovers of all ages get together on this day to help make the world a better place for animals.

American Humane CEO Robin Ganzert said, "The commemorative week provides people with the opportunity to contemplate the bigger picture of how their actions impact all the amazing creatures we share with our planet. And hopefully this week and every week we can celebrate kindness, compassion, and love for our animal friends." To help make a difference American Humane asks people to take a pledge to improve the lives of animals year-round.To take the pledge go to AmericanHuman.org/BeKind.

Coincidentally, there were a few heartwarming stories that we learned about during "Be Kind to Animals Week." Here are three that will make you smile.

United Press International reported a Charleston, South Carolina woman was reunited with her missing cat after 10 years. Animal Control Officers picked up Mr. Mojo and took him to the Charleston Animal Society where they scanned his microchip. They then called his owner, Erin, for a reunion. Mr. Mojo was found two miles from his home. Erin cried during the reunion. Mr. Mojo seemed happy but didn't cry.

A Raleigh, North Carolina mechanic rescued a six-week-old kitten from a car's engine. As reported by CBS17.com  Chris Hayes, whose elderly cat passed away a few months ago, said that he fell in love with the gray kitten so he adopted her and named her "Charcoal."

Chris' wife Stephanie said she "really wanted to find a gray kitten like the one she had as a girl.” While Chris was working to free the kitten, he said he kept thinking, “Wouldn’t it be cool if this is a gray kitten?”

Newsweek Magazine reported that a cat was recently mailed from China to Canada. Workers at a mail center in British Columbia found the cat. The British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says, "The officers noticed that the box was damaged and had a sizable hole in its side. When the CBSA officer looked into the box, the officer saw a pair of eyes staring back which blinked." The cat, which was named Precious by its rescuers, was taken to a veterinarian where she was treated and then placed in a foster home. Precious loves belly rubs and is going to be fine.

If you're considering adopting a furry friend please visit our Kitty Corner.