“I’m not ready for her to go,” Sugar’s owner Ryan Rustan said

Sugar the surfing dog.Credit : gofundme

Sugar, the viral surfing dog, has to prepare for one of her final surf sessions.

Ryan Rustan, owner of the rescue dog based in Huntington Beach, Calif., announced in a Monday, March 2, Instagram post that the 16-year-old dog was diagnosed with cancer.

Sugar is best known for her expert surfing skills, for which she holds 19 titles, is a five-time World Dog Surf Champion and the first animal ever inducted into the Surfers’ Hall of Fame. At the time of Sugar’s induction, Rustan told the crowd, “This is so beautiful for Sugar. This is probably one of the most special days of her life for sure.”

Rustan’s post announcing Sugar’s cancer diagnosis revealed that the surfer dog recently underwent surgery to remove her tumor. He created a GoFundMe page to help cover the medical expenses he’s paid and is expecting to pay for the remainder of her treatment, from veterinary visits and medical equipment to special food.

He wrote that she “has brought so much joy to so many.” In his Instagram post, he told local residents that he’s planning to have a “beach day with sugar” so everyone can “watch her catch her last wave.” He noted, “It’s gonna be coming up really soon,” and will likely be March 7 or 8.

Sugar the surfing dog.gofundme

Rustan spoke with the local outlet Fox 11 and tearfully said, “She has only maybe a very short time.”

He also celebrated his dog’s accomplishments, calling her the “most decorated surfing dog on the planet.”

“She’s been on the forefront of showing other dogs how to ride a shortboard properly,” he said. “I love her so much. I’m not ready for her to go. But she taught me a lot. She taught me that life’s cool.”

Sugar the surfing dog.gofundme

In addition to riding waves, Sugar also serves as a therapy dog at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Long Beach, Calif.