Today is a sad day for Rosehill Retrievers. Baby Sage just short of his 14th birthday lost his battle with cancer. A 6 year survivor of maxillary fibroid sarcoma he was hit with mouth cancer and it was so aggressive within three days he went from running and retrieving bumpers to not being able to bark due to the pain it caused. I didn't want this dog to ever have to endure pain again and so sad to see a dog that loved retrieving more than breathing not able to pick up even a soft, small puppy bumper broke my heart. What a spirit this dog has had his entire life. I was humbled by his bravery and no matter what the odds this dog never complained.

After his reovery from his radiation and surgery for the maxillary fibroid sarcoma, Sage was ready to get back to training. We trained and we ran agility trials and he never missed a beat. He lost some of his sight in his left eye due to the residual effects from the radiation and would sometimes miss the tunnel entrance because he could not see the tunnel opening in the dark horse arenas where most of our agility trials are held. I would come out of those runs with tears in my eyes and Sage, being the trooper he is would come out of those runs as if to say "Did you see that turn and didn't you love that run?" He was always so happy. So, he wasn't feeling sorry for himself and neither could I. I could not let him down as he was giving me all he had and I needed to do the same. I needed to get myself to that tunnel entrance and get to the exit in time to give him the information he needed to know where to go next. Once I made up my mind, it wasn't so hard and Sage went on to earn his well deserved MACH (Master Agility Champion) title and he did it at warp speed. He was exhilirating to run!

No dog exhibited a more sweet disposition nor a bigger heart and he always gave me 200% no matter what the task. He lived every day as if it were his last and with the energy of an army. Sage was born with joy in his heart and I wanted him to leave this world the same way. We spent the morning walking the fields with his housemates, sniffing the ground, wagging his tail, and checking back with me to be sure I was hanging with the pack.. In every way he was a champion. He is my hero. Remembering Baby Sage and in my heart forever.

August 21, 1998 - June 4, 2012