Is Pudgy the dog dead? Fans pay tribute to the "Owa Owa" TikTok star as owner confirms news of his passing

Famous TikTok dog Pudgy, aka Pudgy Woke, has passed away. His owner Malachy James announced the news on July 16th on his Instagram and newly made YouTube channel.

The chihuahua had garnered over 12 million followers on TikTok, and his latest video has been watched more than 9 million times. Pudgy was famous for making an "owa owa" sound, earning the nickname the "Owa Owa dog."

Pudgy was named after the dog from the Betty Boop movies, which Malachy James used to watch with his mum when he was a child. He adopted the dog after he was found roaming the streets after escaping an abusive home.

How did Pudgy, the Owa Owa Dog, die?

James posted a video on his YouTube channel titled "What happened to PudgyWoke," where he announced Pudgy's death and explained what had happened.

Malachy James then revealed that Pudgy was then rushed to the animal hospital where he was told that the dog would need surgery which would cost $12,000 to $15,000. While the US-based family decided to cover the medical fees, the doctors informed that even if Pudgy went through the surgery, the chances for his survival are slim.

Malachy had to make the tough decision of putting his dog down as the family did not want it to go through any more pain.

Fans paid tribute to the beloved dog on Twitter and comments section on Instagram and YouTube. They were saddened to hear that Pudgy had to go through a painful death.

Malachy James also revealed in his video that he would make sure that Pudgy’s name lives forever and had planned merchandise for the popular dog. He announced that he would release Pudgy’s merch if fans wanted him to.

He also mentioned that posting videos on Pudgy’s account seemed wrong to him, so he would occasionally post a few videos.

About the author

Karishma is a trending writer at SK POP. With a BA in Journalism, Psychology and Literature, Karishma, who has closely followed the latest internet trends from a young age, found her role at SK POP to be the perfect fit for her professional qualifications and personal interests.

She has nearly 3 years of experience in the industry and has interned with The Hindu and Deccan Herald. In her role at Sportskeeda, Karishma covers a range of topics at the pop division, but she believes her skills as a journalist are best reflected while creating impactful and research-intensive stories. For her, no other step in the writing process is as crucial as fact-checking with multiple sources and accurately conveying facts and data.

Karishma holds deep admiration for artists Luke Jerram and Yoshitomo Nara's authenticity and originality, who are her favorite icons. When not ideating her next story, Karishma can be seen deeply engrossed in a book.

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