I am sad to report the loss of our friend and my family member Tigger (aka Kiowa Margo). She lived over 15 glorious years and brought us much love and joy in the past 3 years she shared with us. Tigger came to us via a "give away" ad in the Missoula newspaper. Judy called and made arrangements to pick her up immediately then called me to ask if I could foster her. Really, I was only going to foster and the fact that the first greyhound I ever placed was named Tigger was simply a coincidence. Later I learned that she shared a birthday with my beloved aussie girl, Izzy....again I said this is NOT a sign it is a coincidence. She had been here about a week and one night I was playing with the dogs and I said "Everyone Sit", Tigger came running over and popped herself into the nicest sit. I was shocked by this un-greyhound like behavior. This certainly seemed like a lot of coincidences. It was then that I decided that 3 solid coincidences equal one big sign from above. That very night Tigger moved her little self from the kennel to the house and never looked back. Sure, adopting a 12 year old dog may seem like throwing your heart away, but that is not how it was...it was wonderful. Tigger was Iris' best buddy. She was so unassuming and nothing bothered her, a behavior that Iris' started to emulate. You would think I would leave a old dog alone but when the rest of the pack participated in a Canine Good Citizen test last year, Tigger at 14 years was not left out and was tested too. Her sit was a bit wobbly, and her down slow and careful but her desire to please shone through and she passed the test earning her first and only obedience title. On her 14th birthday and Izzy's 13th we threw a great dog party. Complete with ice cream and liver cake. That party is still talked about. There were about 15-20 dogs all loose together eating and socializing. Amazingly everyone was on their best behavior and we had a blast. Tigger loved to wear nice collars. I have never known a dog who even noticed their collar. Tigger did. This spring I bought a nice soft lime green fabric collar for her. It was the last collar she wore. It is in my pocket at this very moment and now dries my tears.

A month or so ago I noticed Tigger limping and it seemed difficult for her to get comfortable sometimes. I started to offer her pain reliever. I suspected osteosarcoma and started to hear the clock ticking. Tick tick tick. When Tig first came home Iris and her shared a bed for a few days. They both seemed to need the connection and comfort. Some of you may remember the yin and yang picture of them http://www.gparockymountain.org/ProsePoetry.html . After those first few days I never saw them share a bed again until last week. There they were side by side. I knew that they were going through the process of letting go and saying good bye. Tick tick tick. As the days passed I needed to make the dreaded vet appointment which would confirm what I already knew. When Tigger started needing a double dose of pain meds I could wait no longer. Tick tick tick. I noticed small changes in her, she panted more and her balance was off just a bit. I saw less of the smiling Tigger I loved. One glance at that x-ray and my heart sank. The affected bone was speckled with damage and the edges eaten away. As much as I hated the idea of letting Tigger go the risk of a break was too high to be ignored. Tick tick tick. So I made an appointment for later in the day. Tigger and I headed to McDonalds bought hamburgers. Then we came home and pulled her big bed into the sun and snuggled and shared cookies with the rest of the pack. Darrin left work early and together we took Tigger to be released from her sick little body. Together we wrapped her in a favorite blanket and delivered her body to the crematorium. As I was saying good bye I told her I would miss her stubborn streak...heaven forbid you should reach for her collar to guide her. I will miss her big chocolate drop eyes. I will miss how on the rare occasion she escaped she would hobble away as fast as her old legs could take her like some rest-home escapee with a walker. But the thing I will miss the most is her sweet little yip bark. She used that bark to call to me, to find me or if she needed help getting up. A soft little yip. Last night as I was falling to sleep I heard her yip...a last sweet good bye...a prayer answered. Judy told me Tigger's last owner never even said good bye to her or gave her a farewell pat. I can tell you when Tigger left this time she was surrounded by love. Her soft coat damp with tears and dried with loving caresses. Tigger is loved and missed by her whole family....dogs and people.