WepickedupHeidiwhenshewasalmostayearold.Isaw
heradinthepaperafterIresearchedbreeds,readbooks
(especiallyKittySteidel’sbook),anddecidedaPBGVwas
thedogIwouldjusthavetohave.Inthebook,CharAllmann
andherPhoebeconvincedmethatagilitywithaPBGVwouldbegreat.Andbecausetherearesomanyolder
wonderfulpurebreddogstoadoptthatcanbegintrainingrightaway,IknewHeidiwasthedogforme.
ThenightHeidicamehome,shecameintohernewhouse,metmytwoyounggrandsonsandimmediately
gotabath.Thinkaboutit:She’dhadafour-hourdrivewithstrangersandwastwominutesinahousewith
kidsandshegotabath.Itwasnobigdealtoher,sheknewshewashometostay.
Heidiwasnotachampion,butshewasmyChampionoftheHeart.SheHATEDagility(sniffingher
wayaroundthecourse).Shewasnotahunter.Well,shelovedthebunnyinthecagebutnot
chasingit.ThenCharinvitedustoaSearchandRescuemeetingand,ohmygosh,Heidifoundher
calling.ShebecameoneofahandfulofPBGVsintheworldtobeacertifiedSearchandRecovery
K-9.Wetraveledextensivelytofinetunethisskill,andasateamwelovedeverymoment.Wefound
Heidi'sgiftforSARcouldbeusedbestintwoways:findingevidenceinbuildingsanddoingwater
recovery.Sheobtainedthename“QueenoftheNile”becauseofhertotalcomfortinboatsandwater
humanremainsdetection.WhenIbrokemyankle,CharhadtoworkwithHeidi.Theydidgreat,
nevermissingabeat.ItbecameCharandClue,JillandHeidi,thatwerealwaystheleadK-9sused
onallthewaterrecoveryassignmentsfromlawenforcement.Wefourwerethego-towater
recoveryK-9sontheteam.
Heidigavemylifemeaning.Shegavemeunconditionallove,broughtclosuretogrievingfamilies,
helpedtofindevidenceincrimes.Idon'tthinkshehadanenemyintheworld.Everyonelovedher.
WhenweretiredfromSAR,thatwasit.MyotherPBGVswillneverdothatwork.Heidisetthebar,
andIwillalwaysrememberherfortheawesomeK-9shewas—mypetandworkpartnerallrolled
intoone.TherewilleverbeanotherHeidiinmylife.Iwasblessedtohaveherforallthoseyears.
RIPsweetgirl,untilwemeetagain.
Heidisurvivedcancerandpancreatis,butintheenditwasdementiathat
sadlytookherlife.HugyourdogsasIhugQuincyandSheltonallthetime.
JillandMikeFitzgerald
PhotobyTerryCoxFiedler