‘Beagle on wheels’ was adopted after nearly 650 days. Now she needs a home again
UPDATE: As of June 24, Sage the dog had returned to the Triangle Beagle Rescue of North Carolina. Rescuers in a Facebook post said she was waiting for a foster home that could provide hospice care due to her medical needs.
The original story is below.
A “beagle on wheels” needed a second chance — then came a heartwarming adoption.
“She spent nearly 650 days in a loving foster home while she patiently waited for a home of her very own,” the Triangle Beagle Rescue of North Carolina wrote June 9 on Facebook. “We are thrilled for this happy-go-lucky gal and her new mom.”
The good news came after a journey that started in August 2023. Sage the dog had been surrendered to a shelter before landing at the Raleigh-area rescue in rough shape. At the time, she had little control of her back legs, was “severely anemic, very thin, had a raging UTI, and heartworm positive,” former foster parent Meghan Sigtermans told McClatchy News via email.
Sage soon received treatment and started using a doggy wheelchair. While rescuers don’t know how she got injured, they discovered she had spine damage and likely wouldn’t be able to walk on her hind legs again.
“Though her back legs may be paralyzed, her spirit knows no bounds,” the rescue wrote Dec. 15 in a Facebook post. “Sage is a social butterfly with a heart as big as her determination.”
As Sage spent more than a year waiting for a new owner, she was described as a loving and easygoing dog. Sigtermans said the friendly pup became the “star” of adoption events and insisted on snuggling at home.
“She brings joy and enthusiasm to every moment, making her the perfect companion for someone ready for a sweet and sassy two-wheel-drive buddy,” the animal organization wrote. “Whether she’s squeaking her favorite stuffy until she dozes off or accompanying you on a walk until her tires wear out, Sage is all in!”
Rescuers thought Sage, who wears a diaper, would do best in a home with a routine. Eventually, the dog caught the eye of a woman who cares for several animals with special needs. The woman had wanted a dog in a wheelchair and adopted Sage, leading to her fresh start.
“It takes a special home to take on her slightly more demanding diaper dog needs,” Sigtermans wrote. “After almost two years her perfect home came along.”
This story was originally published June 17, 2025 at 2:33 PM.
