Viral meme dog Cheems dies at 12 after battle with cancer

Cheems shot to fame in 2019 after a picture of him looking uncomfortable was widely shared online by users wishing to express their own discomfort or weakness in various scenarios. — Instagram/@balltze

Pup Balltze aka Cheems – the dog featured in numerous viral social media posts, including many ‘Doge’ memes – has died at the age of 12 after a battle with cancer.

Cheems’ owner announced the tragic news in an Instagram post early Saturday (Aug 19) morning, writing, “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.”