Viral meme dog Kabosu has died

Kabosu, the beloved canine famously associated with the ‘doge’ meme, passed away peacefully at the ripe age of 18.

She was truly a remarkable companion.

Even those who seldom browse the internet are likely to recognize Kabosu’s endearing face, albeit perhaps unaware of her true identity.

The Japanese shiba inu went viral more than a decade ago thanks to a now-iconic image of her giving a bit of side-eye, which took the internet by storm.

The dog got turned into a meme known as ‘doge’, accompanied by nonsensical captions that could be used to describe pretty much any situation.

Bad weather? ‘wow very rain’, doge would say.

Stuck in traffic? A simple ‘much car’ would do the trick.

Kabosu’s likeness has been altered to depict her donning sunglasses, placed humorously on loaves of bread, and has even served as the emblem for Dogecoin, a cryptocurrency initially conceived as a jest.

After bringing so much joy to the world, Kabosu’s health sadly began to decline as she was diagnosed with leukaemia and liver disease.

Her owner, Atsuko Sato, announced the news of her death on Instagram today (24 May).

“To all of you who loved Kabosu, on the morning of the 24 May, Kabosu crossed the rainbow bridge,” Sato wrote.

“Thank you all so much for your support over the years. She went very peacefully without suffering, as if falling asleep while feeling the warmth of my hands petting her.”

The caption continued: “Thank you all so much for loving Kabosu all these years. I am certain Kabosu was the happiest dog in the world. That makes me the happiest owner in the world.

“I would like to express my deepest appreciation to everyone who has sent us much love to us.”

Sato, a teacher in Japan, welcomed Kabosu into his life in 2008 after she was rescued from an animal shelter.

The news of her passing has unsurprisingly triggered an outpouring of tributes from fans of the beloved doge meme, many expressing their condolences on Instagram.

“She wasn’t just a good girl. She was the best,” remarked one fan in response to Kabosu’s demise.

Another penned, “Rest in peace, dear Kabosu. You gave her a beautiful life, and thank you for letting us share in it, bringing joy to everyone through doge.”

Although Kabosu’s departure is sorrowful, the Shiba Inu enjoyed a fulfilling, lengthy life, surpassing the typical lifespan of 13-16 years.