El Nino weakening doesn't mean cooler temperatures this summer, forecasters say
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
A Portuguese dog named Bobi has been named the world’s oldest living dog by Guinness World Records, which claims the pooch is also the oldest canine ever recorded.
The geriatric dog is 30 years and 226 days old, as of Feb. 1. Bobi was born on May 11, 1992, making him a millennial.
According to a news brief on Guinness’ website, Bobi has lived his entire life with the Costa family in the rural village of Conqueiros, in Leiria, Portugal.
Bobi is a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo, known as a livestock guardian dog. The breed typically lives about 12 to 14 years, so Bobi has long surpassed expectations for his longevity.
Bobi has broken nearly a century-old record held by the previous oldest living dog. Bluey, who died in 1939, held the record after living 29 years and five months.
The Serviço Medico-Veterinário do Município de Leiria, the veterinary medical services in Leiria, have confirmed Bobi’s age and it was also verified by Portugal’s pet database.
As well, Guinness describes Bobi’s life as “miraculous” as the Costa family had initially decided he should be put down. He was born as one of four male puppies in an outbuilding the Costa family owned.
Bobi’s owner, Leonel Costa, who is now 38, told Guinness that his father decided the puppies could not be kept as they owned too many animals, which “unfortunately, at that time, it was considered normal by older people who could not have animals at home,” he said.
Bobi and one of his cat companions, Ceguinho. (Guinness World Records)
However, Bobi’s mother, a dog named Gira, kept going back to the outbuilding after the puppies were taken away, and it turns out, one dog was left behind — it was Bobi.
Leonel Costa and his brothers decided to keep Bobi a secret.
“We knew that when the dog opened its eyes, my parents would no longer bury it,” Leonel told Guinness.
Guinness states that it can take one to two weeks for a puppy to open its eyes, as they can only do so when their central nervous system has developed.
When Leonel’s parents discovered Bobi, he had opened his eyes and officially joined the family.
Regarding Bobi’s secret to a long life, Leonel said only Bobi knows the answer.
But the “calm, peaceful, environment,” outside of a major city could be a factor in Bobi’s longevity, said Leonel. The pooch has never been attached to a leash and can roam free as he pleases. Bobi also grew up with many other animals and is “very sociable,” and has always eaten human food, he said.
Now Bobi is spending his twilight years considerably less energetic than before, but enjoys hanging out in the Costa’s backyard with the family’s cats. His eyesight isn’t great, and he likes to relax after meals, said Leonel.
Unfortunately, in 2018, Bobi had a health scare and collapsed due to breathing issues. But he recovered and now has frequent appointments with the vet. Exams indicate he’s doing well, even with his age, said Leonel.
Bobi is “one of a kind” and a reminder of relatives the family has lost, as they all knew the pooch, he added.
“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. Bobi represents those generations,” he said.
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
A 15-year old boy who was critically injured after a stabbing in Nepean on Thursday has died of his injuries, Ottawa's English public school board said Sunday.
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
The Maple Leafs battled back from a 3-1 series deficit against the Boston Bruins with consecutive 2-1 victories - including one that required extra time - in their first-round playoff series to push the club's Original Six rival to the limit before suffering a devastating Game 7 overtime loss.
Amid scientists' warnings that nations need to transition away from fossil fuels to limit climate change, Canadians are still lukewarm on electric vehicles, according to a study conducted by Nanos Research for CTV News.
Three people have died and two have been hospitalized after a speeding car struck a tree and landed on another vehicle in Fredericton Sunday morning.
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Madonna put on a free concert on Copacabana beach Saturday night, turning Rio de Janeiro's vast stretch of sand into an enormous dance floor teeming with a multitude of her fans.
Thieves killed two Australians and an American on a surfing trip to Mexico in order to steal their truck, particularly because they wanted the tires, authorities said Sunday.
Alberta Ballet's double-bill production of 'Der Wolf' and 'The Rite of Spring' marks not only its final show of the season, but the last production for twin sisters Alexandra and Jennifer Gibson.
A British Columbia mayor has been censured by city council – stripping him of his travel and lobbying budgets and removing him from city committees – for allegedly distributing a book that questions the history of Indigenous residential schools in Canada.
Three men in Quebec from the same family have fathered more than 600 children.
A group of SaskPower workers recently received special recognition at the legislature – for their efforts in repairing one of Saskatchewan's largest power plants after it was knocked offline for months following a serious flood last summer.
A police officer on Montreal's South Shore anonymously donated a kidney that wound up drastically changing the life of a schoolteacher living on dialysis.
Since 1932, Montreal's Henri Henri has been filled to the brim with every possible kind of hat, from newsboy caps to feathered fedoras.
Police in Oak Bay, B.C., had to close a stretch of road Sunday to help an elephant seal named Emerson get safely back into the water.
Out of more than 9,000 entries from over 2,000 breweries in 50 countries, a handful of B.C. brews landed on the podium at the World Beer Cup this week.
Raneem, 10, lives with a neurological condition and liver disease and needs Cholbam, a medication, for a longer and healthier life.