FANS of social media sensation Cheems have been left devastated by the dog's death.
The adorable pooch had been keeping his followers entertained ever since he first went viral over a decade before his passing.
What is the Cheems dog meme?
The Cheems dog memes are a popular type of meme on social media that feature pictures or animations of Cheems.
They are part of the group of Ironic Doge Memes, which feature dogs in strange and funny situations.
A photo of Cheems first went viral online in the early 2010s, leading to the dog gaining a following on many social media platforms.
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An example of a Cheems memes is the "swole dog" meme.
Who was the Cheems dog?
Cheems was a Shibu Inu whose real name was Balltze.
The adorable dog was often referred to as "Ball Ball" by his owners on social media.
Cheems' owners regularly kept his Instagram followers up to date with his actions, posting adorable pictures of the dog and also keeping them informed about his health battle.
Is Cheems dead?
Sadly, in August 2023, it was confirmed that Cheems has died.
The beloved pooch was aged 12 when he passed away during surgery.
On his official Instagram, his owner posted: "Please 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."
How did Cheems die?
Cheems died during an operation, their owner confirmed on Instagram.
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He was receiving thoracentesis surgery, which is a procedure that is performed to remove fluid from the thoracic cavity.
Cheems battled leukemia before his death.
Leukaemia is a kind of cancer which is more present in bigger dog breeds but can impact any animal.
Cheem's breed, Shiba Inus, have an average life expectancy of between 12 to 15 years.