Mishka, an intelligent Siberian Husky who attained internet stardom for her impressive “talking” skills, has passed away, its owner announced on the canine’s Facebook page on Wednesday.
“I’m sad to say that Mishka has passed on. She stayed strong until the end and went peacefully,” owner Matt Gardea posted on Mishka the Talking Dog, which is followed by over 1 million people. “Our very special girl brought joy and love to people worldwide. We have been truly blessed to have her as part of our family for the last 14 years, she will never be forgotten.”
Back in February, the New Jersey-based pooch was diagnosed with a cancerous mast cell tumor, much to the horror of her social media admirers. “You might not hear from us for a while as we pull together as a family to help Mishka during this tough time. Your support is overwhelming, it really shows how many lives Mishka has touched over the years,” a post dating during that time read.
Gardea even created a GoFundMe page for fans who wished to donate for Mishka’s veterinary expenses.
Mishka, 14, started her online pilgrimage in 2008 when a YouTube video of her repeatedly saying “I love you” went viral with 100 million views, Animal Wellness reported.
Soon after she was discovered, Mishka began to star in more than 700 videos on Gardea’s YouTube page and appeared in several shows in the US, including “Live with Regis and Kelly” and “Fox News Morning Show.” In 2011, she even headlined a commercial Nestle’s pet food product Purina. Gianna Francesca Catolico /ra