Internet's beloved 'Doge' meme dog Kabosu dies

The Japanese Shiba Inu had been battling leukemia and liver disease.

Kabosu, the iconic Shiba Inu who became the face of the globally adored Doge meme, has passed away at the age of 17. The sad news was confirmed by Kabosu's owner, Atsuko Sato.

“On the morning of May 24th, Kabosu crossed the rainbow bridge,” Sato announced on Instagram.

Kabosu's rise to fame began in 2010 when its photograph started circulating online. The image quickly went viral, and by 2013, it had evolved into the Doge meme. This meme typically features a picture of Kabosu with multicolored text in Comic Sans font, conveying a whimsical and humorous internal monologue in broken English. The unique and endearing style of the Doge meme captured the hearts of internet users worldwide, leading to its recognition as Know Your Meme's “top meme” of 2013.

The influence of the Doge meme extended far beyond internet culture, notably inspiring the creation of the cryptocurrency Dogecoin in December 2013. Initially conceived as a joke, Dogecoin rapidly grew in popularity and value, amassing a dedicated community of supporters and achieving mainstream recognition. Kabosu's image, synonymous with the Doge meme, has been celebrated by numerous online polls and media outlets as one of the best internet memes of the 2010s.

A farewell party to honor Kabosu's life and legacy is scheduled for Sunday at Flower Kaori in Kotsu no Mori, Narita City, from 1 PM to 4 PM.