Cheems (officially called Balltze), who became an internet-favorite "doge," passed away during surgery. The 12-year-old Shiba Inu has touched the heart of fans who frequently see his appearance in several memes on social media.
With his sudden passing, the whole community is grieving an icon who has brought a lot of fun and comfort through his comical pictures.
How did Cheems's fame start? Let's find out.
How Cheems Became the Face of the 'Memeternet'
2015: Balltze's Instagram Account Was Created
Cheems a charismatic dog with funny composure and facial expressions. A Hong Kong family adopted the Shiba Inu.
In 2015, his owners decided to open an Instagram account for Balltze. Here, followers can see his daily pictures and videos showing what he does as a home dog.
His owners have no idea that two years later, Cheems will become one of the internet icons of this generation.
2017: Cheem's Doge Portrait Was Uploaded
No one thought a breed dog could take the whole internet by storm. Becoming an internet sensation is an understatement since he will soon become very popular all over the world.
When Balltze's Instagram account attracted thousands of followers, several people thought there was more to seeing Cheems' recordings.
His memorable gesture portraying a dog who is funnily staring at the looker has been uploaded.
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2019: Cheems' Viral Meme Photo Reached Social Media
When Balltze became the talk of the town after his photo was posted on IG, memers thought it was now the perfect time for it to be meme-worthy material.
Some Redditors have already created memes featuring Cheems with a stick. Other memers depict the Shiba Inu with a bizarre stare.
The name "Cheems" came from Balltze's desire for cheeseburgers, as his family said. The cheeseburgers were later called "cheemsburger" as a tribute to the dog.
2020: Cheems Memes During Pandemic
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, several people ended up making their own unique memes for Cheems until there were templates that were specifically dedicated to him.
There's Cheems with a muscular build. Some memes saw him as a simple "boi" with a stick who's ready to beat the hard-headed kids.
Furthermore, other memes featured the face of the viral doge. Everywhere, it's clear as the day that this dog has become a rockstar in his own way.
It is Cheems' thoughtful gesture that always made the audience laugh for no reason. It's a "meme-bastic" year for Balltze.
2023: Cheems Crossed the Rainbow Bridge
Just recently, it's tragic news that sent everyone in shambles about Cheem's unexpected demise. A new wave of memes about this lovable pooch was born. Some are all about sadness, death, and anxiety.
"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," Cheems' owners wrote on Instagram.
The owners urged the dog's fans to stop feeling sad about Cheem's passing and instead focus on the joy he brought to the world.
Cheems was detected to have lung defects due to cancer on July 17. Balltze's owners said that there were people who donated for Cheem's surgery and chemotherapy.
Because "Ball Ball" is finally in heaven, his owners decided to donate the money collected for the medical bills to local animal charities.
Cheems may no longer be with us, but maybe he's playing with Harambe somewhere above the clouds.
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