Sugar the surfing dog, beloved wave-riding champion and therapy hero, dies at 16
Sugar the Surfing Dog competes in the 10th Annual Surf City Surf Dog competition on September 29, 2018 in Huntington Beach, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. - Sugar, the surfing dog who became the first canine inducted into the Surfer’s Hall of Fame and later devoted her time to comforting veterans as a therapy dog, died Monday after battling cancer.
The 16-year-old rescue dog from Huntington Beach, California, who was a five-time dog surfing world champion, died "in her daddy’s arms," a post on her Instagram said.
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What they're saying:
"She lived to put smiles on faces, volunteer, to send it !! to change dog surfing forever !!! thank you for loving Sugar," the post said. "Good bye my Sugar., i can’t believe in writing this .. i’m going to miss you so much."
The backstory:
Sugar was found as a stray and over the years her love of the waves and natural talent took dog surfing to new heights.
Dressed in a life jacket, spectators would watch the furry white canine in amazement as she balanced on her surfboard, riding wave after wave back to the shore, sometimes with her owner, Ryan Rustan, by her side and other times all on her own.
In 2024, her paw prints joined the hand and footprints of many other renowned surfers immortalized in concrete in Huntington Beach when she was inducted into the hall of fame.
"This is just incredible. Dreams do come true even for a surfing dog and guys like me," Rustan said at the ceremony.
Dig deeper:
A post on Huntington Beach's Facebook page described her as a local legend who the Surf City community is mourning.
"From inspiring the surfing world to advocating for rescue dogs and bringing comfort to veterans as a therapy dog, her impact reached far beyond the shoreline," the post said.
The Source: The Associated Press contributed to this report. The information in the story comes from a combination of sources, including a post on Sugar’s official Instagram account announcing her death, statements from her owner Ryan Rustan, and a tribute shared by the City of Huntington Beach on its Facebook page. This story was reported from Los Angeles.