Beloved internet sensation Kabosu, the dog behind the popular “doge” meme, has sadly passed away at the age of 18. The Japanese shiba inu had been battling both leukaemia and liver disease. Owner Atsuko Sato announced the sad news on Instagram, writing, “To all of you who loved Kabosu, on the morning of May 24th, Kabosu crossed the rainbow bridge. Thank you all so much for your support over the years.”
Sato expressed gratitude for the outpouring of love and support from fans, sharing that Kabosu passed peacefully without suffering, as if falling asleep while feeling the warmth of Sato’s hands petting her. “Thank you all so much for loving Kabosu all these years,” Sato wrote. “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, adopted Kabosu from an animal shelter in 2008 after she was sent there when her puppy mill shut down. In 2010, a photo of Kabosu with crossed paws and a slight smirk went viral on Reddit and Tumblr, catapulting her to internet fame. A Reddit user nicknamed the image “Doge,” intentionally misspelling “dog” as a nod to a 2005 episode of Homestar Runner.
The “doge” meme gained widespread popularity in 2013, with colored Comic Sans text overlaid on the photo, featuring broken English phrases such as “Wow. So scare” and “What r u doing?” surrounding Kabosu. In 2021, the “Doge” meme was sold as a non-fungible token (NFT) for a whopping $4 million (£3.2 million).
Kabosu is also the face of the popular cryptocurrency Dogecoin, which was originally created as a “joke” currency and is now the official sleeve sponsor of Watford Football Club. In April, the Dogecoin logo even briefly replaced the Twitter home button icon.
Although Kabosu may no longer be with us, her legacy as an internet icon and beloved companion will live on. She will be deeply missed by her owner, Atsuko Sato, and her countless fans around the world.
