Dragoneer, a beloved member of the furry community and owner of the popular furry art site Fur Affinity, was recently announced dead. Now, the furry community is coming together to pay tribute to and mourn the loss of the man who helped many get into the community, but the circumstances around his sudden death are also sparking discussions about the healthcare system in the United States. Here's why.

Who Was 'Dragoneer' And How Did He Die?

Dragoneer was the owner of Fur Affinity, a furry art website that allows users to submit art, poetry, writing and music created by members of the furry community. Since 2005, Fur Affinity has become one of the most popular forums for furries and Dragoneer has owned the site since 2021. Dragoneer's fursona was a purple and yellow anthropomorphic dragon.

On August 6th, 2024, a Fur Affinity staff member made a post on the site announcing that Dragoneer had suddenly passed away, causing a wave of mourning across social media. While the staff member didn't elaborate on how Dragoneer died, many suspect it was due to a lung-related illness that Dragoneer was posting about on X throughout July 2024.

How Are Furries Reacting To Dragoneer's Death?

Little is known about exactly how Dragoneer died or what he died of, but his X account possibly sheds some light on the situation. In the last few weeks of July, Dragoneer made several posts about a mysterious, worsening illness he was going through. He describes a constant, growing cough, scratchy throat and how he felt like he was on "the verge of death."

To make matters worse, Dragoneer seemed to have trouble getting a diagnosis and treatment for the issue. In one post he shares that he needs to undergo a full biopsy and that the illness is worse than he initially thought. In another, he shares evidence that his specialist visit cost him $25,000 US, despite the specialist seemingly not knowing what was wrong with him. This has resulted in not only fan art and posts mourning his loss, but discussions about the downfalls of the U.S. healthcare system and how it purportedly failed Dragoneer.

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For the full history of Dragoneer's death, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.