Kabosu, the Shiba Inu who became an internet sensation and inspired the creation of the Dogecoin cryptocurrency, has died at the age of 19, according to her owner, Atsuko Sato. The Japanese dog, whose images went viral and sparked the "Doge" meme, passed away peacefully at her home in Japan.
Sato, a kindergarten teacher, adopted Kabosu from an animal shelter in 2008. The dog's images, shared on Reddit in 2013, quickly became a popular meme, with her expressive face overlaid with humorous inner monologues in broken English. The meme's popularity eventually led to the creation of Dogecoin in 2013, a cryptocurrency that initially started as a joke but has since inspired a wave of dog-themed digital currencies.
"Kabosu, today, May 24, at 7.50am fell into a deep sleep. Kabosu is at rest now," Sato shared online. She described a serene scene, with soft light shining in through the window and birds singing on a beautiful morning. "As I caressed her, as if she was sleeping, she passed away quietly," she added.
Kabosu's image has not only been immortalized in memes and cryptocurrency but also caught the attention of Tesla CEO Elon Musk. In April last year, Musk briefly changed the logo of Twitter/X to an image of Kabosu, causing a significant surge in the price of Dogecoin. Musk has been vocal in his support for the meme-based cryptocurrency, even dubbing himself "The Dogefather" in a tweet in April 2021, which led to a 20% surge in Dogecoin's price within hours.
Kabosu had been battling health issues in recent years, including acute cholangiohepatitis and chronic lymphoma leukemia. Despite her health challenges, Sato maintained that Kabosu was "the happiest dog in the world" and expressed her gratitude to everyone who loved Kabosu.
Sato plans to hold a "farewell party" for Kabosu on Sunday at Flower Kaori in Kotsu no Mori, Narita City. The world will remember Kabosu not just as a meme legend, but as a beloved pet who brought joy and laughter to millions around the globe.
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