After overcoming her most formidable obstacle, Koa the rescue dog won her biggest prize.
The 10-year-old chocolate Lab recently won the Large Dog Surf Competition at Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge Western Regionals. This was Koa’s first top finish in her over six years of surfing.
Even more impressive, the Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge win came less than a year after Koa beat cancer. The Labrador Retriever was diagnosed with Grade 1 soft tissue sarcoma in 2021 and underwent an operation and 17 treatments of fractional radiation before getting a clean bill of health in 2023.
Kristina Welsh, the dog’s pet parent and an emergency veterinarian in Carlsbad, Calif., was by Koa’s side throughout her treatment. Welsh met Koa through work when the pup was six weeks old. A Good Samaritan had found little Koa running around on a highway and brought the puppy to…
