Cheems dead aged 12: Meme dog falls asleep during surgery for cancer and never wakes up – as internet pays tribute to the beloved shiba inu
- The lovable shiba inu, also known as Cheemsburger and for his love of cheeseburgers died during a surgical procedure on Friday
- The owners said their beloved Cheemsburger ‘never woke up’
- Cheems shot to fame in 2017 after a funny photo went viral and inspired a meme
Cheems has died aged 12 after falling asleep during surgery for cancer, his owner has revealed.
The beloved meme dog failed to wake up during the procedure on Friday afternoon, his Instagram page said.
The internet erupted in heartbreaking tributes to the adorable shiba inu, with some making memes of him entering heaven.
Cheems, who lived in Hong Kong, rocketed to online stardom when a photograph was posted of him in 2017 with a quizzical look on his face.
Cheemsburger, the beloved Shiba inu, died on Friday during a surgical procedure, his owners said. He was 12
A photo of Cheems with its angel wings and a halo around his head. His owners wrote, ‘I believe he is running freely in the sky and having a lot of delicious food with his new friends’
Cheems owners wrote on Instagram on Friday: ‘Ball Ball fell asleep on 18/8. 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. 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.’
A smiling Cheems was also called Ball Ball by those who adored the lovable pooch
His owners also paid tribute to the medical staff who took care of him during his cancer battle over the last six months.
They added: ‘All of you have been very generous and helpful, and I’m truly grateful to all of you, 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.’
They plan to send the donations that were sent for Cheems care and brass pins money that were collected for the medical bills will be now be donated to local animal charities.
The post garnered more than 540,000 likes from all over the world with many fans of the smiling pooch expressing their condolences and sending messages of love to Cheems family.
‘Thanks for all your love. Thanks Ball. We love you,’ one person wrote.
A heartfelt post with a photo of Cheems playing the guitar
A photo of Cheems giving love and hugs with the caption: ‘Fella Hug!’
Cheems was featured in a post surrounded by other legends who passed including, the late musician David Bowie, actor Robin Williams, Princess Diana, boxing great Muhammad Ali
Another said: ‘Ball was very happy in life and had a beautiful family. We wiill remember him with that smiling face. He’s already resting and I hope he is running everywhere in that place. I send you a hug, I can exactly understand your feelings.’
Some even shared how Cheems kept them through some of the darker days during the Covid-19 pandemic. One mourner wrote, ”R.i.p cheems, but in all seriousness cheems actually kept me entertained and genuinely happy throughout most of quarantine.’
They added: ‘I never thought I’d be saying I shed a tear for the passing of a dog that I never even met but cheese truly was special. I’ll miss him a lot but I am glad that he’s at rest now.’
