On Friday, Atsuko Sato, a kindergarten teacher from Sakura city in Japan, wrote that her dog peacefully passed away as if sleeping while she gently stroked her.
Kabosu, a Japanese Shiba Inu, gained online fame in 2013 under the nickname “Doge”.
Kabosu, the shiba inu dog known for its curious look in many “doge” memes, passed away, as announced by its owner on Friday.
Kabosu's photo with a subtle side glance became popular in 2013 on Tumblr and different online chatrooms, eventually being called “doge,” a famous image of the social web era.
Atsuko Sato, a 62-year-old kindergarten teacher from Sakura in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, shared the news in a heartfelt poem on her blog last Friday.
She wrote that she fell into a deep sleep at 7:50 a.m. Sato mentioned that she would organize a goodbye celebration for “Kabo-chan” on Sunday.
Sato wrote that she peacefully passed away while he gently petted her. He believed Kabo-chan was the happiest dog and he was the happiest owner.
Kabosu's face has appeared in many social media posts and was also used as the face of a cryptocurrency. An NFT of the image was sold for $4 million in 2021.
Dogecoin honored the dog on X, describing her as a “creature that only knew joy and endless affection.”
Today Kabosu, our community's shared friend and inspiration, peacefully passed in the arms of her person. The impact this one dog has made across the world is immeasurable.
— Dogecoin (@dogecoin) May 24, 2024
She was a being who knew only happiness and limitless love.
Please keep her spirit and her family in…
The picture was posted on the internet, frequently with vibrant captions in the comic sans font showing fake astonishment. These captions usually included words like “wow,” “amaze,” and broken English phrases like “so frost, much cold.” They were meant to represent the dog's thoughts.
People would modify the meme to express their thoughts on global happenings, popular culture updates, and even to criticize their political opponents.
In 2014, the transportation agency in Stockholm, Sweden, started a marketing campaign featuring the doge meme, including phrases like “so affordable,” “lots of summer,” and “amazing.”
Sakura is very proud of its well-known dog mascot. The dog's image can be seen on manhole covers and a bronze statue of Kabosu was revealed this year, funded by donations from fans worldwide.
In February, Sato informed the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun that Kabosu, a rescue dog, was once close to being euthanized. Kabosu's age is not known for sure, but Sato mentioned in February that she was 18 years old.
Sato shared with the newspaper that since Kabosu entered their home, many wonderful things have occurred, making their life richer with unforgettable moments.
Kabosu's iconic picture was captured in 2010 and shared on Sato's blog, where it remains accessible today.
Sato mentioned to the Know Your Meme website in 2020 that the picture was completely normal.
“I snap many photos daily, so that day was just like any other. Kabosu enjoys posing for pictures, so she was happy to be in front of the camera,” she shared with the website.
She was still puzzled by the online popularity her pet had gained. “I had no knowledge about it, and I still don't fully comprehend,” she expressed.
In 2020, Kabosu was diagnosed with leukemia and liver disease. Sato mentioned in a recent interview with the AFP that the prayers from internet fans played a crucial role in helping her recover.
