Remembering Cheems: Two Years Since We Lost an Internet Icon ❤️

Over two years now. Cheems is gone. That chubby-cheeked Shiba who captured our hearts left us on August 18, 2023. Just twelve years old. Cancer took him too soon.

Balltze—his actual name—wasn't just some dog on the internet. No way. Those puffy cheeks and that gentle little smile transformed him into something bigger. Cultural touchstone, I'd say. Kind of amazing how a single dog could mean so much to millions of us stuck behind our screens.

The "Cheemsburger" thing? Still makes me laugh. His expressions became our expressions. Digital shorthand for so many feelings we couldn't quite put into words. The memes live on. They always will.

Fans didn't forget him. Not even close. Tributes popped up everywhere. Money flowed to animal charities. People remembered.

Looking back now in 2025, it seems Cheems wasn't just passing entertainment. He connected us somehow. Not entirely clear why some memes fade while others stick around, but there was something special about this particular good boy that resonated.

You brought us joy, Cheems. Through screens and difficult days. We miss you still.