Kabosu, the Shiba Inu behind the iconic doge meme, passed away on Friday at the age of 18, as announced by her owner on Instagram.
Kabosu's journey to internet stardom is a modern fairy tale. Rescued in 2008, she was adopted by Atsuko Sato, a kindergarten teacher who shared photos of her pets on her blog. In February 2010, a seemingly ordinary photo of Kabosu caught the internet’s eye and became a viral sensation.
The doge meme's influence spread far and wide, used by government agencies, weather apps, and even inspiring a visit to Japan by the Reddit user who first posted the meme for International Doge Day.
Kabosu’s amused, knowing expression eventually became the face of Dogecoin, a joke cryptocurrency famously endorsed by Elon Musk on Saturday Night Live in 2021. Musk later faced a lawsuit from Dogecoin investors who accused him of manipulating the cryptocurrency's value.
Despite her internet fame, Kabosu lived a peaceful life. Sato has organized a farewell party for her this weekend.
“Kabosu is very different from the typical temperament of Shiba,” Sato told The Verge in 2013. “She’s very gentle and calm; she loves being photographed.” Wow. Much perfect, very missed.
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