Boo the Pomeranian, the most adorable dog in the world, died on Friday. He was 12 years old.
Millions of fans are mourning Boo, who caused endless smiles and laughter throughout his years as a famous pup. Boo's death comes just over a year after the death of his older brother Buddy, another extremely cute Pomeranian.
Boo's humans shared the tragic news with his 16 million fans in a Facebook post.
"With deepest sadness I wanted to share that Boo passed away in his sleep early this morning and has left us to join his best friend, Buddy," they wrote.
"Our family is heartbroken, but we find comfort knowing that he is no longer in any pain or discomfort. We know that Buddy was the first to greet him on the other side of that rainbow bridge, and this is likely the most excited either of them have been in a long time."
It's easy to see why Boo was crowned the "world's cutest dog." From his tiny little ears to his tiny little paws, he looked like an adorable stuffed animal come to life.
"I brought Boo home in the spring of 2006 and so started the greatest, most heartwarming friendship of all time," his humans wrote on Facebook.
Boo became a worldwide internet sensation when his humans started sharing photos of him on social media. Over time, his Facebook page grew to 16 million loving followers.
The page is titled simply "Boo," which is how you know he was a big deal. He went by one name only, like Cher!
As his fan base grew, Boo even scored a book deal. He appeared in a few children's books, like Boo: The World's Cutest Dog, which was published in 2011.
He was also named Virgin America's official pet liaison. He shared tips on pet travel with fans.
Boo's brother, Buddy, was also internet-famous. The two were extremely close, and fans loved seeing their antics online.
Buddy was a couple years older than Boo. He died in September 2017.
Since Buddy's death, life for Boo was never been the same, his owners said.
"Shortly after Buddy died, Boo showed signs of heart issues. We think his heart literally broke when Buddy left us," they wrote.
"He hung on and gave us over a year. But it looks like it was his time, and I’m sure it was a most joyous moment for them when they saw each other in heaven."
"Our family is heartbroken, but we find comfort knowing that he is no longer in any pain or discomfort. We know that Buddy was the first to greet him on the other side of that rainbow bridge, and this is likely the most excited either of them have been in a long time."
Boo's humans are, of course, devastated to lose their special dog. But they're not alone in their mourning.
Boo's 16 million followers are also distraught by the news.
"Since starting Boo’s FB page, I’ve received so many notes over the years from people sharing stories of how Boo brightened their days and helped bring a little light to their lives during difficult times," Boo's humans wrote.
"And that was really the purpose of all this… Boo brought joy to people all over the world. Boo is the happiest dog I’ve ever met."
On the post announcing Boo's death, people shared their condolences for Boo and wished him well on his journey over the rainbow bridge.
Many people shared stories of how Boo impacted their lives.
Some read his children's books to their kids as they grew up, and a lot of Pomeranians found their forever homes because of Boo!
He also had a much deeper impact on some people. One woman, for example, said Boo helped her cope with cancer and inspired her to get her own service dog.
Other internet-famous pets also shared their condolences, including Venus the Two Face Cat and Minnie & Max the Pugs.
For many people, the idea of Boo joining his pal Buddy in heaven was especially emotional.
Yes, it is perfectly OK to cry for a dog you've never even met.
That's the power of animals, you know. Boo was the perfect example.
RIP, Boo!
