Doge meme dog has passed away
Kabosu: Forever in Hearts - Honoring the Paw-sitive Legacy of the Doge Meme.
Kabosu, the Shiba Inu dog behind the iconic "Doge" meme, has passed away at the age of 18. Her owner, Atsuko Sato, announced the news on her blog, writing that Kabosu "quietly passed away as if asleep while I caressed her" on the morning of May 24, 2024.
Kabosu's quizzical side-eye expression became a viral sensation in 2013, inspiring countless memes featuring the dog's face paired with captions in broken English like "wow" and "much amaze".
The meme transcended the internet, with Kabosu's image being used in advertising campaigns and even inspiring the creation of the Dogecoin cryptocurrency in 2013.
In 2021, a non-fungible token (NFT) of the original "Doge" image sold for a record-breaking $4 million, with the proceeds going to charity.
Dogecoin, which has a market cap of over $22 billion, paid tribute to Kabosu on X (formerly Twitter), saying she was "a being who knew only happiness and limitless love" and that her impact on the world was "immeasurable".
Kabosu's hometown of Sakura, Japan, honored her with a bronze statue unveiled in November 2023, funded by donations from fans around the world.
A memorial service for the beloved dog will be held on Sunday, May 26, in Narita.
