Donations made for Balltze a.k.a. Cheems’s medical expenses will be donated to animal charities
The owner of Balltze, the Shiba Inu dog who became the iconic face of “Cheems” dog memes, announced the beloved pet’s passing on social media.
Balltze, known as Ball Ball, captured hearts online with his endearing smile, becoming a viral sensation.
The 12-year-old dog passed away on August 18 after a battle with cancer, as revealed by his owner Kathy to his many Instagram followers. She shared that he fell asleep during his final thoracentesis surgery.
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While initial plans involved pursuing chemotherapy or other treatments after the operation, the timing was not in their favor. Kathy urged everyone not to grieve but to remember the joy Balltze brought the world.
Kathy reminisced, “A Shiba Inu with a round smiling face connecting you and me, he has helped many people during the pandemic and brought a lot of joy to many of you, but now his mission has completed. I believe he is running freely in the sky and having a lot of delicious food with his new friends. He will always be inside my heart.”
In July, Kathy had shared that Balltze was likely battling cancer and that she was coming to terms with the news.
The dog gained fame for his memes, often portraying his love for “cheemsburgers” or holding a baseball bat to “bonk” people on the head.
With his popularity, Balltze even had his own website selling merchandise like enamel pins, sweatshirts, and tote bags featuring his adorable face. His fame extended to becoming associated with a cryptocurrency token.
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Kathy shared that the donations made for Balltze’s medical expenses will be given to animal charities in his memory.
Banner Image Paulo Correa
