
Firefighter Dan Estrada is a dog lover so when he came across a dog that was in distress, he didn’t hesitate to come to the dog’s aid.
He and his friend Vincent Lopez were walking through the woods behind his home in San Lorenzo Valley, California with their dogs when they came across a dog that seemed to not be moving. When she heard the men approach, she was able to lift her head.
“It really was a miracle,” Estrada told TODAY.
The dog was a 12-year-old blind Labrador named Sage who had been missing for over a week. The neighborhood was plastered with signs and her owners even had a professional dog tracker looking for her.
“Our neighbors and other members of the community helped us search day and night for a week,” Beth Cole, Sage’s owner, told The Mercury News. “We looked everywhere.”
The family was frightened for her wellbeing, especially since mountain lions are known to roam the area. Thankfully, they hadn’t gotten to her, however, hunger and exhaustion did.
Estrada approached the dog and gave her a kiss. He knows Sage very well, she often plays with his two rescue dogs, a pit bull named Koelsch and a dachshund named Barnabus.
She was very weak after being alone in the woods for so long, so he picked her up onto his shoulders and carried the dog up the hill.
Estrada’s wife then contacted Sage’s owners who brought her right to the vet. After some rest, Sage was back to being herself. The whole neighborhood was overjoyed to hear about her safe return. One neighbor cooked her a steak, while a welcome home party will be held for her at a local bar where money will be raised for the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter.
Estrada has refused the $1,000 reward that was offered for Sage’s return and suggested that they donate it to the animal charity. This wasn’t the first time he saved a dog.
The firefighter, who is also a paramedic with the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department, saved a dog who was trapped in a closet in a burning house six years. He’s also saved plenty of human lives.
“It’s too easy to be caught up in daily life,” Estrada told TODAY. “Too easy to miss the opportunity to be a blessing in your community.”
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
Dian Tauriana
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God blesses your life forwards
Janice Hartley
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Well done,
Steve Johnson
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So glad he’s ok, sweet puppy
Marieks Horne
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Thank you to the firefighter for your dedication in rescuing the blind dog. You are a hero. God Bless
Carola Bolink
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True Hero!
Joanne Melillo
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awwww
Kcangels Peace
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Omg i hope he kept this sweet dog ❤
Joyce Dewitt
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I know they are pleas and happy to have Sage back. So special.
Bea Miano
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You are truly hero thank you and god bless !
Mary Overend Petsch
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AWESOME!!!
Cheady Ricafranca
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Im very proud of this people who always there to help dogs abandon.bless people who care dogs
Ron Anderson
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Great job of rescuing that dog!
Nina Gunter
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“THANKYOU!” YOU ARE A HERO OF THE BEST KIND!
Mark Gunter
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Great guy!
Pamela Emes
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What a hero.
Lisa Stokes
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So glad he was rescued x
Cindy Syracuse
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I’ll be happy to give that sweet dog a good home!!!!
Edward Syracuse
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Amen! I’ll drive to get him!
Brenda Dunn
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So so kind.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Trudi Elise Lichty
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God bless this precious baby always and forever and the one who saved them
Juanita Atkins
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Thank God for people like you
Barry Mitchell
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God put the poor blind dog in the woods.
Adele Blum Endom
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Beautiful I cried crocodile tears. Thanks for helping that fur baby
Barry Mitchell
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Thanks for helping her out. The world is fortunate to have people like you!
Juanita Atkins
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God does everything for a reason, we are not there to judge….
Abigayle Peeler
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That’s just something I couldn’t take an award for either… just seeing family relief in having their baby back would be enough
Patricia Stanton
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Beds you. Thanks for helping this poor baby.
Patricia Stanton
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Bless you for helping this poor baby.
Lynn Freeman-Dyer
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Had to have been terrifying being blind and helpless. Thankfully he was found and rescued.
Fran Violanti
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Thank goodness for kind people.
Barry Mitchell
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You must have really liked cool-ade. Brainwashed as a kid no doubt.
Juanita Atkins
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No you are the kook-aid
Melissa Marshall
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Hero
Cari Lee Horton
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❤️
JoAnn Moore
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thank you
Deb Satrom
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Love thanks to the firefighter, you are awesome, and absolutely do deserve the award!
Lynne Kirchberger
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Good man. God Bless.
Kenna Rowe
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GOD BLESS YOU!!!!
Donna Hutton
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God bless you
Carmen White
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How did her get out? Did someone leave a door or gate open? Be cautious she’s blind….hello!
Mary Lumsden
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oooooooooooooooooooooo hugs from us good job!!!!!
Jill Romine Kettinger
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Awww poor sweetheart…glad for the rescue
Gene Willis
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I hate that for dogs specially if they are blind. Glad to see that he was rescued
Lois Ross
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God Bless you
Rosaria Biear
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The firefighter is a hero
Paula Haefner
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Special place in heaven for that firefighter
Bev Finke
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I have a blind Husky. It would kill me if she got away from me somehow. THANK GOD she had a rescuer!
Judy Schevene
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thank you hero
Jacqueline Gosseling
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Good work !❤❤❤
Ruth Johnson
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Well done decent humans for a change