Marià Gabarro, a retired sales manager from the Catalan town of Terrassa, earned a posthumous place in the Guinness World Records for amassing the world’s largest collection of dog-related memorabilia. The recognition came in 2025, honoring a collection of 5,025 items ranging from figurines and plush toys to intricately carved dog-head walking sticks.
Despite his clear fascination with all things canine, Gabarro was not particularly fond of live dogs. Instead, his passion focused on representations of them—miniature sculptures, collectibles, and decorative pieces that filled every corner of his two homes. His daughter Teresa, now 54, jokes that her West Highland White Terrier gets to enjoy the soft toys that her parents had carefully curated but never allowed a real dog to touch.
Gabarro began collecting in his 60s, slowly but steadily building his canine-themed treasure trove over decades. Markets and specialty shops across Spain became his hunting grounds, where he sought out unique, whimsical, and finely crafted dog memorabilia. Over time, the collection grew so vast that it spread into two separate houses, both transformed into shrines to his unlikely obsession.
After Gabarro passed away at the age of 94, his children decided to honor his legacy in a meaningful way. They submitted the extensive inventory to the Guinness World Records committee, hoping to immortalize the decades of careful curation and their parents’ shared enthusiasm for non-living dogs. The attempt was successful, and the record is now an enduring tribute to Marià’s eccentric hobby.
The Gabarro family’s story captures the bittersweet charm of personal passions that evolve into something greater. Though not a fan of barking, shedding, or walking a dog, Marià found companionship and joy in his inanimate pups—each figurine, toy, or novelty item a symbol of his affection for the idea of dogs without the responsibilities that come with them.
Now, thanks to the loving efforts of his children, his legacy lives on in the record books and in a home still filled with the quiet presence of thousands of small dogs. For Marià Gabarro, it seems, devotion didn’t require a wagging tail—just imagination, patience, and a deep appreciation for the canine form in all its collectible glory.
READ MORE: