In Memory of Tigger

Roxy Therapy Dog Tigger

Tigger was Roxy's first Pit Bull a few years back and retired when they moved out of the area.

Please see the lovely tribute below from his handler, Julie.

I met sweet Tigger in October 2011. We met at S.A.V.E. animal shelter in Skillman, NJ, where I was volunteering for a day with my company at the time. After volunteering at the shelter, I took him out for a walk. He was so happy to be outside of the shelter walls. When he was really happy, he didn’t walk, he pranced. That day, he pranced for the length of our walk. I fell in love and immediately applied to adopt Tig. I had never had a large dog before, and never a ‘pit bull’-type dog and, although I was apprehensive, Tigger made the transition seamless. He came home with me on October 14, 2011, his ‘gotcha day’, and I never, ever regretted bringing him home. Tigger was sheer joy and an angel in a dog’s body. He was the gentlest soul I’ve ever known. When Tigger wagged his tail, his whole body laughed. He barked at himself in the mirror, he ‘snuffled’ all of the pillows off of our couch each morning, loved to bask in the hot sun, and always had to be the first dog to drink from the fresh water bowl each morning. He was full or personality and had so much love to give. He loved volunteering with Roxy and would get excited and jump up and down when I asked him if he wanted to go to ‘work’. He had two regular classes at Linden and also worked in the Courthouse Dogs program. Sadly, I was relocated for work, so we had to leave Roxy. Tig continued to ‘work’ up in Boston for Dog B.O.N.E.S. of Massachusetts. He made so many new friends here, and we are so honored by how many people have expressed their condolences. Tigger was destined to be a therapy dog, and I knew that very soon after I adopted him.

Tigger and his Frenchie brother, Bailey, were best buds. We referred to them as ‘brothers from another mother.’ Even though Tigger outweighed Bailey by 30 pounds, Bailey protected Tigger. Bailey understood the gentleness of Tigger’s soul. Bailey would clean Tigger’s face, cuddle him after Tig had a chemo treatment or a particularly long day at the hospital, and Tigger kept Bailey young. TIg would bark at Bailey until Bailey chased him. They’d run through the yard or have ‘romper room’ on our bed. They were made for each other. 

Tigger was an American Staffordshire Terrier, which the media calls ‘pit bulls’, and portrays as vicious and dangerous. Tigger could never hurt another being. He would never even have defended himself against another dog, which is why Bailey felt the need to protect him. Tigger was sometimes hesitant to even bite his toys too hard. We have been told many times that people could not believe Tigger was a ‘pit bull’ because he was so kind. Tigger changed the minds of many people he met through his therapy work. We hope some of those people realized that there are many kind ‘pit bull’ type dogs that need good homes and love. 

Tigger was so much more than a dog, and our house feels empty and less alive without him in it. Tigger was the heartbeat of our home, and we will miss him forever. When we are ready, we will help another ‘pit bull-type’ dog in Tigger’s memory because we know that is what he would want. You were our angel, Tiggy-boog, and we miss you more than we can express. We are sending you giant hugs, kisses, and snuggles until we meet again. We are keeping your spot on our bed warm for you, and flowers and a candle on your spot on the deck. We will also be hanging windchimes, and we hope you’ll let us know when you’re near.