Owner of one-time oldest dog in history ‘takes Guinness World Records to court’

Leonel Costa said he will 'follow the path of justice' in his spat with the records company.

The owner of Bobi, the former ‘oldest dog in history’ who had his title stripped following his death last year, has said he is filing a lawsuit against Guinness World Records.

Leonel Costa claims he brought up his dog from the moment he was born in 1992, and marked his 31st birthday party with a joyous celebration in his home town of Conquieros, Portugal, last May.

Just a few months earlier, the records company had certified him as not only the oldest dog alive, but the oldest dog that had ever lived.

But an outpouring of scepticism from veterinary professionals following Bobi’s death last October led officials to reassess the application, and in February the title was revoked.

GWR’s director of records Mark McKinley said at the time: ‘We take tremendous pride in ensuring as best we can the accuracy and integrity of all our record titles.

‘Following concerns raised by vets and other experts, both privately as well as within public commentary, and the findings of investigations conducted by some media outlets, we felt it important to open a review into Bobi’s record.’

He added: ‘Without any conclusive evidence available to us right now, we simply can’t retain Bobi as the record holder and honestly claim to maintain the high standards we set ourselves.’

Mr Costa vowed he would get his dog’s record back, saying: ‘I lost the most important thing in my life which was BOBI but I won’t lose my character that I promise you.’

He has now moved those efforts one step further, saying he is taking GWR to court after he did not receive a response to unspecified ‘evidence’ he claims to have sent.

In an email, Mr Costa wrote: ‘We waited more than one month and Guinness did not respond to the evidence sent. So we follow the path of justice.

‘More evidence was sent and mainly asked for more information about their decision and they did not respond.

‘So this matter will be dealt with in court and I will do everything I can to prove the truth and ask Guinness for proof of its decisions.

He continued: ‘To this day, the institution has not given a valid justification for its decisions and proof of this is that to this day there is no other title.

‘Do not change the evaluation rules after the entire process has been developed and closed. As I have to fulfill the requirements, they also have to do it.’

Previously, he has alleged that ‘people in the veterinary world and processed food companies’ have a vendetta against Bobi, because the dog ‘represents everything contrary to what the veterinary world advises, namely that few vaccines and lifelong consumption natural food.’

A spokesperson for Guinness World Records said they have not ‘received any communication from Mr Costa’ since the conclusion of their review was published on February 22.

They added: ‘As we published on 22 February, we would gladly assess any new evidence if we receive any but as of right now, nothing has been forthcoming.’

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