HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Sugar The Surfing Dog, the first dog inducted into the Surfer’s Hall of Fame who spent her days out of the water comforting veterans as a dedicated therapy dog, died Monday after battling cancer.
The 16-year-old rescue dog from Huntington Beach, California, who was a five-time world dog surfing champion, died “in her father’s arms,” according to a post on her Instagram.
“She lived to put smiles on faces, to volunteer, to send it!! to change dog surfing forever!!! thank you for loving Sugar,” the post said. “Goodbye my Sugar., I can’t believe I’m writing this…I’m going to miss you so much.”
Sugar was found as a stray and over the years her love of the waves and her natural talent took dog surfing to new heights.
Dressed in a life jacket, onlookers watched in amazement as the furry white dog balanced on her surfboard and rode wave after wave back to shore, sometimes with her owner, Ryan Rustan, by her side and other times all alone.
In 2024, her paw prints joined the hands and footprints of many other famous surfers immortalized in concrete in Huntington Beach when she was inducted into the hall of fame.
“This is just incredible. Dreams come true even for a surfing dog and guys like me,” Rustan said during the ceremony.
A post on Huntington Beach’s Facebook page described her as a local legend whom the Surf City community mourns.
“From inspiring the surfing world to advocating for rescue dogs and comforting veterans as a therapy dog, her impact reached far beyond the coastline,” the post said.
