Blind Dog Missing In Santa Cruz Mountains Rescued By Off-Duty Firefighter On Hike

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — One more night by the stream and she would probably wouldn’t have survived. A blind Labrador Retriever who had been missing for eight days and seven nights was found lying on the forest floor, seemingly lifeless, by an off-duty firefighter and his friend out for a hike in Santa Cruz County last Saturday.

The entire Santa Cruz community knew about Sage, the blind dog missing in the Santa Cruz mountains for more than a week, according to Livermore-Pleasanton Firefighter Dan Estrada. Estrada, who lives in Boulder Creek in Santa Cruz County and works in Livermore, said the dog-friendly beach community was covered in fliers about the missing dog and had even sent out search parties canvassing the area looking for the Cole family’s beloved dog.

Sage had apparently gone missing on Feb. 24 after she accidentally wandered into the nearby woods. Estrada said Beth Cole, Sage’s owner, had even hired a search service from the Los Angeles area to help them find the animal, which proved fruitless.

The Right Place At The Right Time

Estrada said he and an old friend, who was visiting from Modesto, took his two dogs on a hike on Saturday when they made the unbelievable discovery in the forest. Estrada said he and Vincent Lopez saw what they at first thought was a trash bag down by the stream in the heavily wooded area. As they got a bit closer, Estrada said they realized it was Sage. Fearing she was dead, Estrada said he quickly climbed down the slope, ran to the stream and when he saw her weakly trying to lift her head and drink from the stream, he scooped her up, hugging and kissing her.

“I was geared up to carry her body up the slope and when she lifted her head and I saw she was alive, the sadness left me and I immediately felt joy,” Estrada told Patch.

Estrada said the night of her rescue, the rain started falling again and the area where Sage was found most likely became a swollen, rushing stream that probably would have ruthlessly drowned her.

A Family Reunited

Lopez immediately called Estrada’s wife to tell her about the good news and using a Polaris, she brought Sage’s family to the top of the slope. In true quintessential firefighter style, Estrada hoisted Sage, who was too weak to stand, across the back of his shoulders and started the steep ascent through the forest.

Estrada said Sage’s family and others greeted them at the top in a very tearful reunion. Estrada’s wife put the word out about Sage’s rescue via social media, and the happy news spread like wildfire. By the time Sage arrived at the local vet, they were expecting her.

According to Estrada, the Cole family offered them $1,000 for the rescue, and they refused, instead asking that they donate the money to a local charity.

Storm-Weary Residents Fall In Love

Sage is home and doing well, and her story has brought a very eclectic community together following weeks of torrential rains that brought on deadly mudslides, massive power outages and loss of property and life in Santa Cruz County, Estrada said. After the rescue, Estrada and Lopez, humble and simply grateful to inadvertently be a part of some positive community news, made seven custom leashes in honor of Sage. Each leash represents a night she was missing, and each is adorned with a word describing a character trait Sage would have had to have had in order to endure alone on the mountain in extremely wet, cold conditions.

"Hope, faith, trust, patience, perseverance, beloved and survivor."

The leashes will eventually be auctioned off for charity. Until then, Estrada said the local fire department invited him for a celebratory beer, and the community has planned a meet-and-greet event on March 18 at Joe’s Bar to pay homage to Sage and celebrate her amazing rescue.

“Sage’s coming home has brought the community together as one,” Estrada said.

Photos courtesy Vincent Lopez