Fact Check: Cheems, The Shiba Inu Meme Icon Passes Away, Not Kabosu, The Dog Behind Dogecoin

Cheems, the adorable Shiba Inu who captured the hearts of millions as a popular meme icon, passed away on Friday at the age of 12. The news, shared through a post on Cheems’ official Instagram account, left fans grieving the loss of this beloved internet canine celebrity.

What Happened: Cheems’ owner shared the heartbreaking details, mentioning that the dog fell asleep during his final thoracentesis surgery on Friday morning. Initially, plans were in place for possible chemotherapy or alternative treatment options, but fate had a different plan in store.

Amid the expressions of condolences and tributes, there has been some confusion within the crypto community, as rumors have circulated claiming that the dog associated with the Dogecoin DOGE/USD  meme has passed away.

JUST NOW:

Famous meme dog "Cheems" died at 12 years old after his battle with cancer. He was one of the most famous dogs on the internet. #Dogecoin $DOGE pic.twitter.com/jQXKfVm6fl

— The Highlight (@thehighlight0) August 20, 2023

**08/20/23 Crypto Report**
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CRYPTOCURRENCY INDUSTRY UPDATES: Cheems, the iconic dogecoin meme dog, has died at 12 years old, leaving behind a legacy in the crypto community. Bitcoin has experienced a considerable decline, prompting a…

— Ox HaK (@oxhak) August 20, 2023

The confusion stemmed from the mistaken association of Cheems with Kabosu, the dog behind the iconic Dogecoin meme. It’s important to clarify that Cheems’ meme featured a different Shiba Inu named Balltze, while the Dogecoin meme features Kabosu. Due to their similar appearances, the confusion led to the misunderstanding.

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Why It Matters: Kabosu was rescued from a puppy mill and was later adopted by Atsuko Sato, a Japanese kindergarten teacher, who named her after the citrus fruit. 

In December 2013, the “doge” meme gained significant popularity and became a cultural phenomenon. Taking inspiration from this meme and reflecting the internet’s adoration for animal memes, two programmers introduced Dogecoin as a lighthearted and humorous response to Bitcoin BTC/USD. 

One notable fan of Dogecoin is entrepreneur Elon Musk, who has shown his support for the cryptocurrency on multiple occasions. Additionally, Dogecoin gained recognition in the sporting world when it sponsored England’s Watford Football Club, with the image of Kabosu, the Shiba Inu featured in the Dogecoin meme, appearing on the sleeves of the team’s jersey.

Price Action: At the time of writing, DOGE was trading at $0.06393, down 0.38% in the last 24 hours, according to Benzinga Pro.

Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock.com

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