DAVID ADAMS provides a round-up of some stories on the odder side of life…
The dog, Bobi, that broke the record for oldest dog ever at 30 years-old, is pictured at Conqueiros, in Leiria, Portugal, on 4th February, 2023. PICTURE: Reuters/Catarina Demony/File photo
• Bobi, the world’s oldest dog, has died aged 31 in Portugal, Guinness World Records said on Monday. A purebred Rafeiro Alentejano who spent his entire life in a village in central Portugal, Bobi lived for 31 years and 165 days, breaking a record held since 1939 by an Australian cattle-dog that died at 29 years and five months. “Despite outliving every dog in history, his 11,478 days on earth would never be enough for those who loved him,” said Karen Becker, a veterinarian who met Bobi several times and who was the first to announce his death on social media. “Godspeed, Bobi.” He was declared the world’s oldest dog in February this year. Bobi’s breed, which traditionally has been used as sheepdogs, usually has a life expectancy of 12 to 14 years. His owner Leonel Costa attributed his longevity to a number of factors, including living in peace in the countryside, never having been chained up or kept on a leash, and always eating “human food”. At the time Bobi was born, Costa’s family had many animals and little money so his father, a hunter, generally buried newborn puppies rather than keep them. But Bobi hid among a pile of firewood. Costa and his siblings found him a few days later and kept him a secret until the puppy opened his eyes. “We knew that when he opened his eyes, my parents wouldn’t be able to bury him,” Costa told Reuters earlier this year. Prior to his death, Bobi still loved walks but had become less adventurous. His fur was thinning, his eyesight had worsened and he needed to rest more than he used to. Guinness World Records previously described Bobi’s story as “miraculous” and said on Monday that “he will be sorely missed”. More than 100 people showed up at his 31st birthday party in May, it added. – CATARINA DEMONY, Lisbon, Portugal/Reuters
• A Polish man has been arrested after he pretended to be a mannequin in front of a store window before stealing from a shopping centre after it closed, police in Warsaw said last week.“A 22-year-old with a bag in his hand froze motionless, pretending to be a mannequin in front of a shop window,” police said in a statement. “In this way, he wanted to avoid being exposed by the cameras.” After the shopping centre closed the man on one occasion robbed a jewellery stand, according to police. On another occasion he went into a restaurant to eat, before slipping under the roller-shutters at the entrance to a store to swap his clothes for new ones, police said. Afterwards he returned to have some more food. However, he was eventually spotted by security personnel who called the police. According to police, the man is also accused of stealing from another shopping centre, where they allege he took money from cash tills and tried to steal other items after it closed. The suspect could face 10 years in prison. – ALAN CHARLISH, Warsaw, Poland/Reuters
Women have their picture taken next to a flock of sheep during the annual parade on the streets of Madrid, as shepherds demand to exercise their right to use traditional migration routes for their livestock from northern Spain to winter grazing pasture land in southern Spain, in Madrid, Spain, on 22nd October, 2023. PICTURE: Reuters/Susana Vera
• Bleating sheep replaced beeping cars on Madrid’s streets on Sunday, as shepherds guided their flocks through the city centre following ancient herding routes to southerly pastures for the winter. The annual event was revived in 1994 as part of Madrid’s annual Fiesta de la Trashumancia, after the Spanish parliament recognised the traditional routes used to herd livestock. Once they passed through quiet countryside, but on Sunday the shepherds, many of whom wore traditional dress, had to cross some of the busiest areas of the city, including the Puerta del Sol, one of Madrid’s main squares. Locals and tourists lined the way, snapping pictures of the sheep that wore tinkling bells around their necks. “I really didn’t expect this in the city, in the capital. This reminds me of my village,” said student Ana Sar, from Mallorca. “It’s amazing,” said Sandra Van Arkelem, 57, from the Netherlands “So many people are joining and enjoying it”. – MICHAEL GORE, Madrid, Spain/Reuters
