Miss Fire was undoubtedly the most talented dog I will ever own or train.  She started her obedience career at the tender age of three.  Going multiple High In Trial in her Novice career.  We quickly went to Open and finished her CDX and in July of 1997, Miss Fire had her first litter of puppies in August.  After a short hiatus, she came back from maternity leave and worked on her Utility career and started showing the following spring.  Finishing her UD in three straight shows.  She went from her CD to her UD in 1 year and 3 weeks.  Her first show after finishing her UD, she picked up her first OTCH points and continued on quickly.  The next spring of 1999 she finished her OTCH and UDX at the same shows in which she finished her UD the previous spring, going back to back High In Trial.  She topped that off in June at the Mile Hi Golden Specialty garnering her first 200 score. She did all this in very limited showing.  The following July she was bred to Mike McDonald's, Sixpak and produced 7 incredible puppies, in the fall. 

The spring of 2000 turned out to be one of the worst years of my life. Beginning in February I lost Dax to liver Cancer, and in March of 2000, my Fire, my soul mate, my perfect one, was diagnosed with lymphoma.   She was put on chemo treatments and lived for 3 1/2 wonderful months.  Fire was my incredible gift from God, and her soul was called back to his glory on a sunny summer evening when the horizon looked like a *Fire in the Sky*  in June.  Leaving myself, my family and her personal friends, her veterinarian Dr. Robin Nelson, my sister Sandi Salazar, and my best friend Trish Gautier devastated.  Fire had accomplished incredible feats in her short life, and her obedience career only spanned a little over 2 years.  Was she *special*  you betcha!  She had special written on her the first moment I met her at the airport, when she rushed out tail wagging, as if to say, "I'm here!  I haven't a moment to waste!"

Her passing has left and incredible hole in my heart.  It's only once in a life time that most people get the incredible gift of a *heart dog*.  That dog that knows you better than you know yourself.  I was her life.  She was my perfect one.

Fire had turned 6 years old in April.  Thankfully Fire leaves her great legacy on in her puppies.

For My Fire:

I can separate the joy from the pain,

when I look to the skye after the rain.