SOCIETY
Viral Doge meme dog dies: what does Kabosu mean?
The immediately recognizable dog died on Friday at the age of 18, and according to her owner: “She crossed the rainbow bridge.”
Today the internet world mourns today the death of Kabosu, better known as the dog featured in the ‘Doge’ meme, who even has his own cryptocurrency, Dogecoin. The 18-year-old dog passed away this Friday, as announced by her owner on Instagram.
“Thank you all so much for loving Kabosu all these years,” she began saying.
What breed of dog is Kabosu?
The Shiba Inu dog became famous on the internet over a decade ago, in February 2010, when Atsuko Sato, a kindergarten teacher, posted pictures of her dog on her blog after adopting Kabosu. The images quickly went viral on social media due to her sideways glance at the camera while raising her eyebrows.
Over the years, her fame has not diminished. On the contrary. Three years later, she even had her own cryptocurrency. The memes continued to populate social media over the years, even when the dog became ill.
For nearly two years, Kabosu has had a health problem that made it difficult for her to walk. In the latest images posted on her Instagram profile, where she has more than half a million followers (over 524,000), she can be seen using a wheelchair for dogs.
The Shiba Inu (literally ‘brushwood dog’) is a small to medium Japanese breed of hunting dog.
Kabosu: a tasty meaning
“Kabosu” is a Japanese word referring to a type of citrus fruit. The kabosu (Citrus sphaerocarpa) is a small, green, and sour fruit similar to a lime, commonly used in Japanese cuisine for its tart flavour. It is often used as a condiment, in sauces, or as a garnish, particularly with fish dishes. Rather apt for our late friend.
When is Kabosu’s funeral?
The message from the owner was directed towards “all of you who loved Kabosu.”
“On the morning of the 24th of May, Kabosu crossed the rainbow bridge. Thank you all so much for your support over the years. She went very peacefully without suffering, as if falling asleep while feeling the warmth of my hands petting her. Thank you all so much for loving Kabosu all these years.
“I am certain that Kabosu was the happiest dog in the world. That makes me the happiest owner in the world. I would like to express my deepest appreciation to everyone who has sent us much love to us,” wrote her owner.
Additionally, in another post on her Instagram profile, Kabosu’s owner announced that the Shiba Inu’s funeral will be held this Sunday 26 May as “a fun farewell party.” No doubt her meme image will live on.