Sugar the Surfing Dog has died following a battle with cancer, her owner announced on social media Monday.
The five-time World Dog Surfing champion from Huntington Beach passed away in her owner, Ryan Rustan’s, arms at 3:20 a.m.
Rustan said in his announcement, “She absolutely loved you guys!! she lived to put smiles on faces, volunteer, to send it !! to change dog surfing forever !!!
At 16 years old, Sugar became the first animal to ever be inducted into the Surfers’ Hall of Fame.
Sugar also served as a therapy dog, working with surf therapy foundations and paying visits to veterans at the VA Hospital in Long Beach.
Sugar the surfing dog is pictured surfing a wave in a photograph published to a GoFundMe campaign for her medical care. (GoFundMe/Ryan Rustan)
She underwent surgery to remove her tumor earlier this year. Rustan, who credited her with saving his own life, said at the time she was recovering and had even gained weight since her surgery.
He launched a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for her care that raised over $15,000.
“Your kindness has made such a real difference — letting us prioritize her comfort, her beach time, and all the little joys that keep her tail wagging,” Rustan said in an update. “She’s our world-famous surfing queen, and we’re just doing everything we can to make sure she feels every bit of that love back.”
Rustan also shared video on March 14 of Sugar catching her final epic wave. He said Sugar leaves behind a legacy far bigger than surfing.
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