Blind Lab miraculously rescued after 8 days in Santa Cruz Mountains

Photo: Dan Estrada Dan Estrada carries Sage, a blind Lab who was lost in the Santa...

BOULDER CREEK, Calif. — A blind labrador retriever was miraculously found alive in the Santa Cruz mountains after being lost in the woods for eight days.

The Boulder Creek dog's rescue went viral on Facebook among San Lorenzo Valley residents who have weathered a wet winter and needed something positive to happen.

The sightless dog, named Sage, wandered into the forest on the night of Feb. 24 and vanished. Sage's owners mistakenly thought their pooch had been brought inside for the night.

Beth Cole said neighbors and friends helped her look everywhere for the beloved dog. But when seven days passed, hope began to fade. There were several mountain lion sightings that week, and overnight temperatures dropped.

"We'd almost given up hope," Cole said.

Then the unexpected happened.

Neighbor Dan Estrada and his friend, Victor Lopez, were out hiking with two dogs Saturday when they saw a white dog in a stream. They feared the lab may be dead.

When Sage sensed their presence, the lab perked up and lifted her head.

Estrada said he was overcome with emotion, ran into the stream, and hugged Sage. The dog had not wandered far from home, but the terrain was steep and slippery down to the stream.

Sage was too weak to walk, so Estrada carried Sage over his shoulders up a canyon.

Now the dog is doing well back home.

"We've always loved our community, but this really re-enforced what a special place this is," Cole said.

Estrada turned down a $1,000 reward from the Cole family, and instead asked for it to be donated to an animal organization.

A celebration for Sage will be held March 18 from 4-6 p.m. at Joe's Bar on Highway 9. The event is a fundraiser benefiting the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter.