The shiba inu behind the famous 'doge' meme is sick with cancer, its owner says
A Shiba Inu who earned global fame for starring in a viral meme is sick with leukemia and liver disease, her owner says.
In a series of Instagram posts this week, Atsuko Sato, a teacher who lives in Japan, said the 17-year-old pooch was in "a very dangerous condition" after being diagnosed with acute cholangiohepatitis, a type of inflammation in the digestive system, and chronic lymphoma leukemia, a blood cancer.
"Right now, the liver level is very bad and jaundice appears," Sato wrote in one caption. "But antibiotics will definitely improve."
The dog, known by the name "Kabosu," had stopped eating and drinking over the weekend but was beginning to get her energy back, Sato said.
Kabosu, a rescue dog, became an internet sensation after social media users began resharing a photo posted to Sato's personal blog in 2010.
https://www.npr.org/2022/12/28/1145813075/shiba-inu-doge-meme-kabosu-sick
= new reply since forum marked as read
Poor pupoy. 
is probably within a year of that decision being made. It's extraordinarily sad since they raised him from a pup.
They always have two dogs. When one has moved on (and they always have it done humanely) they bring another dog into the pack. The Shiba is their first, and will be their only, "designer" dog ( purebred). All others will be "off the rack", meaning rescues. Their present "2nd dog" is a rescue, and that will be the path forward.
I dog-sit in their home, as they travel quite often. They always look forward to "grandpa" staying with them, because they consider me a "soft touch". I don't know where they ever got that idea! 😉
I love dogs, but at my age and diminished physical ability, having a full-time dog of my own isn't possible. There are days I can't get out of bed. Staying with the "grand-dogs" is perfect for me, and we both seem to enjoy the change of pace it gives us. Dogs are absolutely the best! 
goes to the Rainbow Bridge, that will be it for me. Dogs are the best, all best are the best. But sometimes humans reach an age where it is hard to do them justice. Thank you for the love in your heart for your daughter and her pets.
We come to a point where we can't meet their needs. Dogs (any pet, for that matter) are a huge responsibility. I see older people with dogs who can't give them the exercise they need, or perhaps can't afford the medical treatment they require, and it saddens me. It's so selfish. I understand that lonely people need the love a pet gives unconditionally, but to neglect the needs of the animal isn't worth it, at least to me.
You get it. You're one of the good ones too, debm55! In some towns and cities there are people who'll let their pets go for home visits for physically disabled people. My Mom had a woman who'd drop off her standard poodle for an hour or two (whatever you thought you could handle that day) and she'd pick her baby up at a set time. My Mom looked forward to that day each week, when she could just lay on her sofa with the poodle and relax. There should be more people doing stuff like that. It's so important to the quality of a shut-ins life.
From one dog lover to another.... 
Take care!
Watching that sweet doggie, I think she might be "ready".
