Hi everyone. This is absolutely not news I ever wanted to write, but knew I would be doing so one day. It's a lot sooner than I could have ever expected.

I had to let Sage go August 7, 2026.

204 days, almost 7 months, post Stereotactic Radiation for Nasal Adenocarcinoma, Sage began internally bleeding. Of course, I had no idea, as it was internal. The day before he was 100% fine. When I went to leave for Costco, he bolted out the door, demanding to work as my Service Dog, as he does. He happily worked and ate and did great all day. It was just a normal day.

The next morning, that 204th day, he stood on the bed and I noticed a slight wobbliness. Some shakiness in his legs. It was so subtle I'm not sure anyone would have noticed. So I lifted him off the bed, and something in me told me to lift under his butt instead of his belly.

I put him down and he was slow. Lethargic. He started drinking copious amounts of water. He laid weird and wouldn't eat his breakfast. I checked his gums and they were pale. I sobbed, knowing something was terribly wrong.

I had a terrible feeling because I know my boy. I was so scared.

We went to the same vet that did his radiation, as they have an emergency section. I called his name throughout the car ride to get his attention as he was out of it, hardly responsive. It was 37 minutes away.

We got to the vet and I carried him in, again under his butt because now his belly felt so full of liquid. I thought it was just water. I set him down in the waiting room, thinking he could stand, and he collapsed. He got put on a gurney and wheeled back while we went into a room to wait.

An amazingly kind veterinarian introduced himself and what we learned was:

• Sage had fluid in his abdomen. When aspirated with a needle, blood was revealed.

• Sage's blood pressure was at 80 when it should be at 100.

• This could be rat poison, physical trauma (he had none), or a bleeding mass such as Hemangiosarcoma.

I remember thinking, when I saw videos on dogs that had Hemangiosarcoma after Sage's initial diagnosis - 'I'm grateful, even though Sage's nasal cancer sucks, at least it was treatable (not curable) with radiation and not that.'

I opted for bloodwork and to get an Ultrasound and an X-Ray to see what was going on inside and started doing research on Hemangiosarcoma to prepare myself. The prognosis for that is incredibly poor. 1-3 months with surgery (mind you, at least 2 weeks of that is recovery and there is always a possibility of having to be let go on the table). 7 months with chemo - which I had decided with Sage's Nasal Adenocarcinoma that I would not do chemo. I did not feel he would do well on it.. less days are better than extra days that don't feel good.

So they checked. He didn't have to be sedated for any of it, he was so lethargic.

The ultrasound showed:

• A bleeding mass on or around his spleen.

• Another mass or blood clot.

• A lesion.

They couldn't confirm Hemangiosarcoma since they didn't biopsy, but that was very likely the cause. It was pretty telltale.

We tried to get him stabilized so I could bring him home and let him see Sugar and Maestro.. to have my primary vet come to the house and let him go peacefully at home. His blood pressure continued to go down to 60. He was starting to kind of shiver, his paws were getting cold and he mostly just slept.

I had to make my choice, and after seeing the ways people can be selfish for longer with their pets, at the detriment to them, I knew I didn't want that for Sage.

My mom went and picked me up chocolate ice cream for Sage. Ice cream was his favorite thing - sometimes I thought he liked it more than me! It perked him up (which brought doubt) and he downed it. It was so weird to smell chocolate on his breath. They gave me a plate of peanut butter, a special dog food, and baby food. He loved it - even did a couple tricks while laying down. He refused a lot of them because he was too tired, but he did 'touch', 'show me your teeth', 'give me a kiss', and "paw'. His tiredness, his reluctance reassured me in my decision.

He was the best. So smart, so special.

I spent a lot of time with him. We were at the emergency vet from 11:30am to 7:30pm. I hugged him and pet him. Laid with my head on him. Kissed his face and thanked him for saving me as much as I saved him. Thanked him for being here through my awful betrayal of a breakup. Thanked him for making it through to my birthday. I begged him to put his soul into me so I could carry him everywhere, so he could watch over me always.

I thanked him for being the best dog anyone could have ever asked for.

And really, he was. There will never be another Sage.

He was perfect, in every sense of the word.

He went incredibly peacefully, head in my hand.

I will miss him so much. It hurts immeasurably. I just want my boy back. I will miss him rubbing on my legs like a cat. I will miss the way he nudged my hand when walking. I will miss his eagerness to train. I will miss him cuddling me. Laying on me to eat his rabbit ear at night. I will miss him giving kisses. I will miss him licking my arm or foot. I will miss his snappies. His attentiveness. His demand barks. His spinning zoomies. His constant presence.

Life will never ever be the same without my Sagey. My service dog. My heart dog. My soul.

I genuinely wouldn't be here today if it weren't for him.

Rest well, baby boy. Run free with your son and daughter, Marigold and Mingus. Your father, Chase. Your wife, Diva. Your old friend, Kiba. Your cat buddy, Milo.

Please stay with me, watch over me. You meant everything to me and you forever will.

And I will always take everything I learned from you into account moving forward.

You taught me so much.

I loved you more than anything.

I will always love you.

Thank you.

Sage Advice of Attaway

01/28/14 - 08/07/26