The adorable shiba inu who became the face of the viral meme used by Dogecoin died early Friday, her owner announced in a moving poetic tribute.
Kabosu was thought to have been 18.
The pooch known around the world for its cute sideways glance “fell into a deep sleep” at 7:50 a.m. Friday, her owner, Japanese teacher Atsuko Sato, 62, wrote in a tender poem on her blog.
“She quietly passed away as if asleep while I caressed her,” Sato wrote, according to a translation by Agence France-Presse.
“I think Kabo-chan was the happiest dog in the world. And I was the happiest owner.”
Kabosu had revealed in December that her beloved pet was gravely ill with leukemia and liver disease.
Sato had rescued her in 2008, meaning she does not know her exact age. However, she estimated her to be at least 18, past the average lifespan for a Shiba Inu.
The Kabosu had been placed on medication after a leukemia diagnosis. Instagram/kabosumama
Kabosu “has stopped eating voluntarily and is on medication.”was the happiest dog in the world. And I was the happiest owner” Atsuko Sato wrote. Instagram/kabosumamaIn 2010, the teacher took a photo of her pet crossing her paws on a sofa — with the image going on to inspire memes for decades, becoming the poster dog for the Elon Musk-backed satirical cryptocurrency Dogecoin.
The picture also became an NFT digital artwork that sold for $4 million.
