• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
The dog behind the iconic Cheems Doge meme has sadly died

Home> News> World News

Published 21:25 20 Aug 2023 GMT+1

The dog behind the iconic Cheems Doge meme has sadly died

The pup's owner has revealed the legendary Shiba Inu passed away after surgery.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

The iconic dog behind the Cheems Doge meme has sadly died.

The dog's name was Balltze (also affectionately known as Ball Ball) but adopted the name Cheems because of its love for cheeseburgers.

The pup became an online sensation off the back of another iconic Shiba Inu who was the inspiration behind the Doge meme.

That honour goes to a dog named Kabosu, who became the face of Dogecoin.

Advert

Balltze was known for such meme hits as Boink and Swole Dog vs Cheems.

According to KnowYourMeme, 'memes featuring Cheems are usually based upon the character humorously misspelling various words, particularly by including extra M letters'.

He first appeared on the Reddit page /r/dogelore in June 2019 and has been a popular meme ever since.

Kathy, the owner of the dog, has revealed in a devastating statement on social media why the pooch died.

Advert

"Ball Ball fell asleep on 18/8. He fell asleep on Friday morning during his last thoracentesis surgery," she wrote.

"Originally, we wanted to arrange chemotherapy or other possible treatment for him after this operation, but it is too late now don’t be sad, please remember the joy that Balltze brought to the world.

"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.

"I hope he can continue to bring joy to everyone in the online world, that’s my only humble request."

Advert

She praised the vets who have helped Cheems in the last few months of his life and said they were 'very generous' and 'helpful'.

Kathy added a final message to fans, saying: "Your love and support to Ball Ball is so unconditional and I found that is the purest love in the world, having Ball Ball in my life is the best thing ever happened.

"Thank you everyone, thank you, Balltze knows how much he was loved by all of you."

It was revealed in May last year that Ball Ball had been throwing up and having diarrhoea and was diagnosed with pancreatitis.

It's devastating to know the dog won't be around anymore, however he will always live on in memes posted onto the internet.

Featured Image Credit: Instagram/Balltze

Topics: Animals, Social Media, Viral

Stewart Perrie
Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Senior Journalist at LADbible. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign. He is in charge of the LADbible Australia editorial content and social presence.

X

@stewartperrie

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

8 hours ago
  • 8 hours ago

    Strict process to be granted entry into UK's biggest swinging festival as organiser explains why it's so important

    Matt Cole and his wife Stacie are the masterminds behind Swingathon, which is returning for its fifth year this weekend

    News
  • 8 hours ago

    Woman who filmed 'Coldplay couple' reveals why she decided to share the video

    Grace Springer shared the video on TikTok on Wednesday (16 July)

    News
  • 8 hours ago

    Dad dies after being bitten by bat while trying to remove it from his home

    An investigation has been launched into the circumstances surrounding Craig Nolte's illness

    News
  • 8 hours ago

    Company releases statement after CEO was 'caught with another woman' at Coldplay concert in viral video

    Astronomer has shared a statement following the viral video

    News
  • Insane money that 'disaster girl' made from iconic meme picture 19 years later
  • Kabosu the world famous doge meme dog has died
  • Woman in viral ‘bored club girl’ nightclub photo recreates iconic meme seven years later
  • Mysterious bright green pigeon spotted in UK town has experts 'sounding the alarm'