‘Cheems’, the Hong Kong Shiba Inu Dog Who Went Viral as Doge Meme and Became Face of a Cryptocurrency, Dies After a Battle with Cancer
By Alexander Ross
The dog who was the face of “Cheems” doge memes has died, his Hong Kong owner announced on social media.
Balltze, a Shiba Inu sometimes called by his nickname, Ball Ball, was immortalised on the internet when memes featuring him with a goofy, knowing smile on his face went viral.
“He fell asleep on Friday morning during his last thoracentesis surgery. 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,” she wrote.
Kathy first reported that Balltze likely had cancer in a post in July, and said she was struggling to accept it herself.
In some of his memes, Balltze was known for loving “cheemsburgers”, while in others, he held a baseball bat to “bonk” people on the head with.
Balltze’s owner said that donations made for his medical bills will be donated to animal charities.
Alexander Ross has covered the video game industry for a decade, writing deep dives on game design, esports tournaments, VR developments, and gaming culture.
