Sparks’Onyx of Bailey Island,CGC,CD,WC,JH,

Delta Society TherapyDog,

LRC Conformation Certificate

3 November 1997- 18 May 2010

Onyx was a mother, a grandmother, and my little black puppy girl.

I met Onyx when she was 47 days old. She was the first born in a

litter of 9 black pups. She was a beautiful black puppy, full of

fun, curious and a thinker. She crate trained and house trained

quickly. She loved to tunnel in the snow. She was strong, happy,

but always mindful of those around her.

We started obedience classes when she was 14 weeks old. We went

for years for the structured work and practice. I remember her

recall, she would take off like a jet, then try to back pedal as

she saw the wall quickly approaching. She loved to play, swim

and go for rides.

Onyx received her CGC easily. In 2002 she gained her

conformation certificate from the LRC at the national. Two of

her pups also got theirs. She was a certified Delta Society

Therapy Dog. Onyx loved to play catch. She could throw, roll and

catch a ball. She worked with this one patient that had tendon

damage in his hand and persisted until he would give in and pick

up the ball. Some days she would play with children with special

needs. She was always so gentle. She always seemed to know just

how much support each person needed. She was just as gentle with

a frail elderly person as she was with a child with special

needs. She worked so hard during these visits to harness her

boundless enthusiasm she would sleep all the way home. She was a

true gift. Onyx earned her CD in obedience while I learned that

something new occurs at every show. You just never know.

She had one litter, my good friend and mentor Jackie Dunbar

introduced me to Diane Pilbin by way of Ghoststone’s Louie

Downtown. Onyx had a fabulous litter of six pups, of course

being Onyx she had them in the camper at the race track. She did

a great job, three girls, three boys. I kept a beautiful black

girl, Bridget who now fills a very big hole in my heart.

Onyx was still very much a pup in her mind and didn’t care about

teaching the pups how to play with toys, although she did teach

them the other rules. She didn’t want them to have her toys. She

was a much better grandmother than mother.

She obtained her working certificate and Junior hunter in her

seventh year. In 2008 she took first in veteran’s obedience at

the LRCPV where as a youngster she was disqualified for moving

during the long sit. I was very proud of her, she was wagging her

tail and looking at me just as she had learned all those years

ago.

My Onyx was always so full of energy, first to the door to go

for a ride. She loved to travel sitting in the front seat with

her elbow on the window ledge. She loved to swim and never

thought it was time to come in. She taught a long haired collie

to swim. She also encouraged all the grandpups to be good

travelers and retrievers. She would let them have toys that she

didn’t with her own pups.

The fall of 2009 brought a diagnosis of laryngeal paralysis. She

did well until this April. We started her on prednisone which

helped with her breathing. Unfortunately a few weeks later she

was diagnosed with lymphoma. She was given chemo on 27 April by

IV injection. Then she began an oral chemo, prednisone routine.

At first she had a hard time, then it looked like she would

improve. I prayed we were doing the right thing for my girl. We

were told that this treatment usually improves quality of life

for 8 to 10 months. We thought it was worth a try. Only three

short weeks later my beautiful Onyx was in so much pain she was

shaking and couldn’t even get up. My heart aches, I helped her

outside to do her business. My husband made her scrambled eggs

for breakfast. I sat with her, petting her and talking to her. I

am so sorry for all your pain, you never hurt anyone.

You were so loving, you taught dogs how to swim, you played ball

with people who didn’t want to, and you helped children with

special needs. You taught me how to learn with a lab. You were

a friend, a companion, an obedience title holder, a junior

hunter, a mother and a grandmother. You are my best friend.

Onyx, I love you so much.

Exercise finished, be free . . .