The viral meme dog, Cheems, also known as Balltze, passed away at the age of 12 during his thoracentesis surgery. His owners shared the heartbreaking news on Instagram on Saturday, August 19.
“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,” they wrote.
Thoracentesis surgery is a procedure of removing fluid or air from a dog’s chest cavity by inserting a needle, tube, or catheter in the space between the lungs and chest wall called pleural space.
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The owners told their followers not to feel sad and remember the joy the iconic meme dog brought to the world, especially during the pandemic. They also believed that Cheems was “running freely” in heaven, knowing he had already completed his mission to make a lot of people happy.
“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.”
They thanked the doctors and medical staff who took care of Cheems for the past six months and everyone who supported him.
“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.”
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The owners emphasized that the donations they collected for his medical bills will be given to local animal charities. “Thank you everyone, thank you, Balltze knows how much he was loved by all of you,” they concluded.
In June, they even shared snaps of Cheems receiving Cartrophen injections and doing physiotherapy.
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Netizens expressed their sadness over the news and recalled some of his adorable memes as a tribute.
Cheems is a Shiba Inu, who went viral around 2010 because of his adorable unimpressed reactions, which netizens often use as a meme to express disapproval or discomfort in different situations.
Run free, Cheems.
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