Shiba Inu Balltze, A Viral Meme Star, Dies At 12 After Cancer Battle

Shiba Inu Balltze, also known as “Ball Ball” and the subject of several viral memes, has died.

In an Instagram post by Balltze’s owner, he fell asleep on Friday morning during a thoracentesis surgery that was supposed to be his last. After the surgery, Balltze owners were looking to arrange chemotherapy visits. Unfortunately, Balltze never got up and died during surgery.

Balltze and his owners, based in Hong Kong, achieved internet virality through a 2017 picture of him, where the image of the dog was used for several “Cheems” memes online.

Some of the most notable “Cheems” memes were the “Swole Doge vs. Cheems” memes. A comparison format meme featuring a cutout of the viral photo of Cheems and a Shiba Inu photoshopped to look muscular.

Another meme is the viral photo of Balltze hitting another dog with a baseball with the onomatopoeia “bonk.”

Balltze was diagnosed with pancreatitis in 2022; while he recovered, his owners reported that he was having severe respiratory problems. Not only did he have cancer, but Balltze was also undergoing thoracentesis (draining fluid from his chest).

Tributes from all across social media poured in for the dog.

Balltze’s owners asked fans not to be sad, but instead be grateful for the joy that Balltze brought to the world. The owners thanked everyone for their support.

“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,” Balltze’s owners stated in their Instagram post.

His owners sold merchandise related to Balltze, initially going for his medical bills, which will now be reallocated to local animal charities.