窓からは柔らかな光が射し込み、
[Soft light streamed through the window]
窓の外では鳥たちが歌う美しい朝に、
[Outside, birds were singing on a beautiful morning]
私に撫でられながら眠るようにそっと逝きました。
[As I petted her, she passed away gently, as if falling asleep]
長い間かぼちゃんを愛して下さったみなさま、本当にありがとうございました。
[To everyone who has loved Kabo-chan for a long time, thank you very much]
かぼちゃんは世界一幸せな犬だったと思います。そして私は世界一幸せな飼い主でした。
[I believe Kabo-chan was the happiest dog in the world, and I was the happiest owner]
Kabosu, the beloved Shiba-Inu behind the globally popular
Doge meme, has
passed away peacefully at home today at the age of 18.This sweet girl, abandoned by a shuttered puppy mill, had ended up in a kill shelter before being
rescued and
nursed back to health by kindergarten teacher
Atsuko Sato in 2008. She was named "Kabosu" after
the round fruit that her furry head resembled.
Photos of a wary Kabo-chan from Sato's blog formed the basis for
the popular Doge meme circa 2013, which spread into
a whole series of Shiba-centric lore, the mascot of
an ironic cryptocurrency, and even
got her a lovely statue (and a
manhole cover) in her hometime prefecture of Sakura.
Sato gamely documented Kabo-chan's charmed life (and her feline friends)
on her blog and
YouTube channel; a
brush with leukemia and liver disease in 2022 (
previously) elicited a wave of support and love from around the world, and
she soon made a "miraculous" recovery and lived happily and well for another 18 months.
For locals, a farewell gathering is planned for Sunday, May 26th, from 1-4pm at dog-friendly hangout spot of
Kaori Flowers in Narita, with a larger event planned for the beautiful
Sakura Furusato Plaza when the weather cools later in the year.
Sato's obit post closes:
かぼちゃんは今もまだにこにこ笑ってシッポを振って
[Kabo-chan is still smiling happily and wagging her tail]
私に寄り添ってくれていると思います。きっとこれからもずっと
[I believe she is still staying close to me. Surely, from now on and forever.]