There is little hope for a blind dog lost in the Santa Cruz mountains, even less for one missing for a week.
For a Boulder Creek Labrador named Sage, however, eight days proved to be enough time to spend away from home in the vast California wilderness.
“It was horrible,” Sage’s owner Beth Cole told ABC7 News. “We were so heartbroken and just feeling so bad that she was out there.”
After losing track of Sage on Feb. 24, Cole spent the following few days searching the woods adjacent her neighborhood, despite reports of mountain lions in the area. Cole, along with friends and neighbors, eventually began to lose hope.
“We had so many people helping with the search. We had signs up, we had it posted everywhere,” Cole said.
That’s when they received good news.
According to KSBW, one of Cole’s neighbors, Dan Estrada, came across a white labrador while hiking along a stream in the mountains with a friend. Sage surprised them both by popping her head up in curiosity.
Estrada recognized Sage immediately, and ran to help her out. He picked her up onto his shoulders for the rest of the hike out of the canyon.
Posted by Missing Pet Partnership on Sunday, March 5, 2017
“I jumped in the stream, I was super happy,” Estrada told ABC7. “I put my arms around her and hugged her and threw her over my shoulders and carried her up the mountain.”
Sage was carried home to a happy and grateful family, while the lesson of her experience was not lost on her rescuer.
“It’s been harsh conditions and that dog had such a strong will to live,” Estrada said. “And I think everybody has a lesson to be learned from that: Don’t give up.”
Sage the blind dog's story of survival is a miracle. She survived 7 nights lost in the #SantaCruzMountains: https://t.co/8USmIWjQJQ. pic.twitter.com/BbilVtz7LL
— ABC7 News (@abc7newsbayarea) March 7, 2017
KSBW reports that Sage’s welcome home party will be held on from 4-6 p.m. March 18 at Joe’s Bar on Highway 9, in hopes of also raising money for the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter.
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Katherine Sullivan
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Why did the owners let her of the lead knowing she is blind the fault of thus poor dogs suffering is yours and yours alone
Kathy Kizziar Simpson
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Thanks to everyone!
Jimmy Knight
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Good thing he wasn’t lost in Canada. #wolfsnack
Silvia Aparecida Pedrassa
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Que dó!!!
Joanne Melillo
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hero! <3
Marlene Stevens
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God Love Her, She is a Beautiful Labrador! Great Story to share! Thank You Jesus for finding Her through her Family’s friend! What a Brave and healthy Dog~
Faith Ames
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Chris Yeomans!
Chris Yeomans
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I read this the other day! Bless his heart
Frankie Hayes
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What did he eat? Happy ending x
Jamie Gardner
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Joanna Brown
Marie Givens
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Thanks to God that she was rescued. Thanks to,her brave, loving and kind rescuers. Bless and keep them all,safe. Amen.
Gabriela Erthal
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Poor him…
Sandra Ollerhead
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Humans can be so cruel……
Doug Hustad
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Pretty
Cindy Collier Lovell
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That poor baby. I’m so glad she was rescued.
Patricia Eger Res
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Love fire and ems families
Savannah Smith
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So sad and happy at the same time
Kelsey Mchone
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This happened in boulder creek a few miles from our house. So touching to have sage safe back in the neighborhood
Emily Duff
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Janet Wenger look at the location of this story.
Faye Simpson
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WOW! Glad Sage was found!
Brett Sheldon
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God blessed her for sure
Patricia Oliveira
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Sage should NEVER be put out side on her own. Someone MUST be with her SHE IS BLIND. Never assume. She was watched over and I am happy Sage was found but it could have been a horrible ending thru no fault of Sage.
Krissie Elaine N
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Bless this precious little soul. Thank God for a happy ending.
Doglovers
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Yup Awesome ?
Doglovers
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anyone else like this post as much as me
Seán Ó Cheallaigh
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Denise Dunne
Walt Merrill
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Glad she is safe.
Angela Boleware
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Poor baby
Janice Quade
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Poor Sage! She must have been so scared and lonely, and above all freezing cold!! thank god , she was saved!!
Kelly Jacobus
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makes u wanna cry…
Grace Conroy
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Glad she’s alright
Roslyn Grant
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Dearest Dog, so glad you were found
Jenny Marshall
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So glad she was found and unharmed !!
Jennifer Mcinnes
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Poor doggy
Jill Siracusano
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That poor little dog. He must have been so frightened. Thank God that he was rescued. That man is a guardian angel.
Sandy Regier
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Awwww. Poor pooch
Jan Beavan Pritchard
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Bless his heart!
Jean Dailey
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I read this the other day and am so thankful she was found and is safe again with her family
Diane Warden
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Bless his ❤️
Susan Sanders
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Saw this on the news – thank goodness someone found the dog!
Kirsten Schouten
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Glad She is save!
Jennifer Cartmill
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Such a heartwarming story. I am so grateful it had a happy ending. Sage is beautiful and what a strong spirit she has. Well done to the man that rescued her.
Susan Bothmann
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So glad he was found. Labs tend to be nervous as they age so with him being blind also I just can’t imagine his agony. Prayers for him always.
Kinga Barbara Kaszewiak
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Jack Jarosz
Carol Wisniewski
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So happy someone found her!
Anita Ghebeles
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Poor thing – so glad she’s back home.
Carol Harrison
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Sad…but a good ending.
Marianne Mahfood Barbieri
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So glad she’s safe
Sally Cotton
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So glad his safe and well
Deb DeVoe
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❤