Photo by Grand Images
Photo by Sharon Burkhardt
Photo by Woof Studios
Photo by Gerry Bradshaw
Photo by Kristen Hayes
Miki
ONYX June 18, 1996 - September 7, 2007
Breed: American Staffordshire Terrier
Gender: Female
Jumps: 14"
Averages: Mid to High 4's
Fastest: 4.39
First Tourney: 08/31/2002
Last Tourney: 09/01/2007
Handler: Sharon Burkhardt
Retired with 24,798 points, NAFA's #3 (of 54) scoring AST's at that point.
On September 7, 2007, the world lost a true ambassador for the 'Bully' breeds, as Miki succumbed to cancer following a long and valiant battle. She slipped away in the company of several of her flyball family members, her favorite tug at her nose, having last enjoyed competing at her final tourney only five days before.
Miki came to flyball late in her life. She was five-years-old when she began training, and did not run in her first tournament action until a couple of months after her sixth birthday. Why, Miki almost did not get into flyball at all, as Sharon found quite a lot of resistance to the thought of having a 'Pit Bull' run flyball when she began looking for someone to help train her. We are so happy that they finally found us, and allowed us to share her life. We only wish that they had done so a lot sooner.
Miki began her competitive career at a Ballistics Tournament in Vassar, MI on August 31, 2002, as a member of the Pedal Pushers. Her career came full-circle when she ended it five years later, running in her last heat on September 2, 2007 in another Ballistics Tournament at that same site. The Ballistics honored her with the 'Retired Racer Award' for a dog that was forced to retire too soon - giving us all a sweet ending to a very emotional weekend.
The five years in between those two Ballistics Tournaments in Vassar were quite a trip for this great gal - as well as all who got to play the game with, and to know her. Her competitive desire and her side-antics made an already fun game a real joy to play.
After earning her first 3,446 points with the Pedal Pushers during the fourteen months that followed her debut, Miki was forced to leave competition for three months following the merger of that club back into the Front Runners. Her short competitive career was further interrupted by several minor injuries and two surgeries to combat the cancer that ravaged her body in the final months of her life - all of which kept her from running in quite a few tournaments, and caused her to run part-time in many others, as she completed her recovery and got back into shape following her many re-hab sessions.
In spite of all of that lost time, Miki still amassed enough points to retire as NAFA's third highest scoring AST of all time. Had she not lost so much time to injuries, surgeries and the time that she had to sit out during the merger, there is little doubt that she could have easily finished as the number one AST.
Many who competed in Region 1 during her career came to know Miki pretty well. Her antics while she waited to run - 'trash talking' with the dogs around her and flipping her tug around while playing keep-away from her handler (whomever that might have been, as she happily ran for anybody who pointed her down the course) - made her hard to not notice. The flying spit as she turned off of the box was her trade mark, one that our box loaders knew all too well.
During her five years of racing, Miki made her mark at 45 tournaments (both one and two-day affairs) around Michigan and Ohio. She also made three trips to Memphis, TN to participate in 9 (one-day) tournaments at the St. Judes Showcase of Dogs. In addition to the competitions, she was a big hit on the demonstration circuit around the mid-west. Everywhere we went, people would come up and ask, "Is that really a Pit Bull?" after watching Miki's pure joy in running with her teammates, and then ask to pet her. She gladly made time to visit (and to thoroughly enjoy the attention of) anybody who asked about her.
In addition to the time that she spent showing folks at tournaments and demos what a 'Bully' was really like, she was quite the good-will ambassador away from the sport. Many a neighborhood child would regularly stop by Sharon's house to ask, "Can Miki come out and play?" - and she did. She spend many joyous hours - both for her and for the kids - playing Frisbee and ball games with just about every kid on the block. She showed all what a caring, friendly breed 'Bullies' really are.
Miki's final two years were troubled ones, but you would hardly have known it when you saw her. She endured two surgeries to fight the cancer that first appeared in her breasts, then spread throughout her body. She spent many weeks recovering from those surgeries - unable to play her favorite games, but still able to lick the face of anybody who came close to her. The light in her eyes burned bright, even when she was in obvious pain. Miki was a real trooper.
Even while the cancer was destroying her body, Miki never complained. To the very end, she outwardly adored and wanted to play with anybody who came into her sight. Her sweet and loving disposition was something that had to be experienced! She wagged not only her tail, but her whole body, while expressing her true joy in sharing her life with us.
All of us who had the great privilege of knowing her will miss Miki dearly. Her passing has left a hole in our hearts that is even larger than was her cheerful body in life.
Miki, we are so glad that you shared your time here with us. Sleep well, oh beautiful girl. You certainly earned it.
Gerry