Dogecoin & Doge Meme Icon Shiba Inu ‘Kabosu’ Dies at 18

The iconic Shiba Inu dog Kabosu, from the “doge” meme and Dogecoin fame, died on Friday, May 24. The canine passed away at the age of 18 after a long battle with liver disease and leukemia. Kabosu first went viral in 2010 on Reddit and Tumblr, which later served as the inspiration behind the famous “doge” meme and cryptocurrency Dogecoin.

Shiba Inu ‘Kabosu,’ dog who inspired Dogecoin and ‘doge’ meme, has died

On May 24, Shiba Inu Kabosu’s owner, Atsuko Sato, took to Instagram to mourn the loss of her beloved pet. The “doge” meme dog passed away on Friday morning. Fortunately, the canine passed away peacefully with her human by her side. She first fell sick in 2022, with the vet diagnosing her with leukemia and liver disease. The Dogecoin dog enjoyed over a decade of fame, 14 years to be specific, as per BBC.

Kabosu first became famous in 2010 when an image of her with crossed paws, smirking, and side-eyeing the camera emerged on the internet. Sato posted the picture to her blog, which then made its way to Reddit and Tumblr. The name “doge” was reportedly first used by a Reddit user, and soon, netizens made it into a meme, and the “doge” meme started making the rounds among people.

The Shiba Inu, who was earlier in a puppy mill, was at the risk of being put down if not adopted by someone. After the puppy mill she was in was shut down, Kabosu was sent to an animal shelter, where Atsuko Sato met her in 2008. Sato is a teacher from Tokyo.

Kabosu is also the dog who inspired the cryptocurrency Dogecoin. The cryptocurrency started as a joke, with a digital artwork of her selling for $4 million. However, Dogecoin is now worth $23 billion and ranks eighth in the most valuable cryptocurrency list.

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