Sir Tigger Turry Ferguson

WHEN: August 8, 1999 - September 14, 2010 WHERE: a white, steel-wire kennel Last Monday was a day of tears in Stacie's family as her favorite little, white, furry friend Tigger had to be put down. Monday, he was diagnosed with an enlarged heart with fluid around his heart and lungs and by that night he was gone. It all happened quicker than any of us were ready for and in one day the life of the smallest, loudest member of the family was gone. It was, still is, and always will be a very sad day but there are also countless memories we made with Tigger and a joy and quirkiness that he brought to the family that we will always smile (and laugh hysterically) about. He was a Maltese first but a troublemaker, bag of cuddling cuteness, and stubborn friend through and through. The stories and memories are endless and we have been sharing them with each other over the past week and remembering just how much of a joy he was in our lives. I could easily go into pages and pages about the characters this 4 1/2lb. canine became and the infabricatable (made that word up) deeds enacted by this innocent-looking, fluffy bundle of spunk. But that would ensure that I would never finish this post that is already overdue. Instead, I wanted to highlight some memorable moments in the 7 1/2 years he was a part of our family as well as share some of my favorite pictures of him. All in chronological order of course! June 3, 2003 - Jennie picks up 'Tigger", a 3-year-old teacup Maltese (whose former owners were unable to care for him) from the Humane Society. We had no idea what that addition to our family would become! February 9, 2004 - Steve teased Tigger by putting his elephant (his exclusive toy of choice, from beginning to end) on top of Stace's bedroom door and 'encouraged' Tigger to try and get it. If there is one thing we did more than love him it was teasing him (which was also our way of loving him in some twisted way). March 8, 2004 - Tigger chased after a raccoon after Stace took him out to go to the bathroom before bed. We decided right then, "We can't tell Jennie about this" :)

My first picture of Tigger Tigger in Wrightsville Beach in March 2004. We kept him hydrated with Snapple poured into a seashell - he thought that was great fun. He also proceeded to chase a black lab, five times his size, down the beach.

My first picture with Tigger (March 2004), in Wrightsville Beach

The family's unofficial favorite picture of Tigger (March 2004)

"Messy Mane" After rolling around in the lawn (May 4, 2004)

May 7, 2004 - Tigger has his first physical July 12, 2004 - Tigger has tonsillitis

"He's so little!" (August 10, 2004) "Inseparable" (August 10, 2004)

Tiggy's favorite past time (August 29, 2004)

October 1, 2004 - I spent the night at Stacie's parent's house so we could leave early for a Hawkeye football game the next morning. I slept with Tigger out in the living room. For about an hour (in 10-minute intervals) Tigger would jump off, go to the hall door (where Stacie's room was), and I’d have to jump up and get him. Then I'd have to scold him to get him to stop licking himself profusely after we laid back down, before he jumped back down and repeated the cycle. That was a treat. I then woke up around 3:45am to Tigger running around the living room barking. I don't remember why but for the record, nothing was wrong and no one was in danger (as usual). That was just the sassy, sweet, spunk he possessed! He was so excited when my alarm went off at 5:20 too.

Tigger helped Stace & I carve pumpkins (that were bigger than him) (October 24, 2004)

October 25, 2004 - While Stace & I were on the phone before bed, she said Tigger was digging frantically in her sheets, then stopped suddenly, looked up, then broke wind :) October 26, 2004 - Tigger had his arm on the toilet as Stace threw up. They were inseparable and he followed her everywhere! November 8, 2004 - Tigger knocked some bags of candy on to the floor in my room that were a surprise for Stace (a surprise then ruined). He knew how to find treats! December 14, 2004 - We (Jennie) put panty hose on Tigger's head for the first time. This would become a somewhat cruel but drop-on-the-floor-crying-in-laughter tradition :) Tigger knew just how to push our buttons and we knew how to push back :) May 6, 2005 - Tigger had surgery on his mouth. He had quickly become more than just an acquaintance at the vet.

"All ears" (June 10, 2005)

"Well, he's people" (June 10, 2005) Yes, Tiggy went through a diaper stage (in his late 30's) (October 2, 2005) "Tiggy...do you wanna go bye-bye?!?!" (November 24, 2005)

"Tigger Claus" Dressing Tigger up in annual Christmas outfits was another perhaps cruel but necessary tradition. (December 25, 2005)

"Watchdog" (January 16, 2006) Get 'em, Tigger! (January 16, 2006) "Puppy Eyes" "Tell me you can't love me!" (January 16, 2006)

Tigger and his best friend, "Elephant" (January 16, 2006)

March 3, 2006 - Tigger had to bunk up with (his big brother) Riley, during Armstrong's visit and move back to the Midwest. Tigger greeted Ryley at the door with 10 minutes of non-stop, high-pitched, territorial barking that makes our ears ring to this day.

This was after Tigger settled down and accepted that Ryley was going nowhere (and also ten time his size). (March 3, 2006) "Buds, Brothers"

May 23, 2006 - I had to brake in to the Ferguson's house on my lunch break from delivering mail to take Tigger out (I had no key). We may have denied it, but our lives revolved around him :)

(June 25, 2006) "Scrapbooking" (June 25, 2006) (June 25, 2006) "Peek-a-boo" (July 9, 2006) "Chillaxin" (July 9, 2006) (July 9, 2006) "Tiggy...?" "Tiggy, do you wanna....?"

"Tiggy, do you wanna treat-ee?!"

Beg! OK, but now I get to hold you (September 8, 2006) Until you tear and claw and push your way back to Stacie's arms!

(December 3, 2006) Tigger helped us move our couch in (March 3, 2007) Smile! (March 20, 2007) Tigger also "helped" us load up our truck to move to North Carolina (July 13, 2007) Tigger tried to be a stowaway in Stacie's suitcase when we were packing to leave after our first visit home for Christmas. Pardon the unmentionables :) (December 31, 2007)

January 25, 2008 - Jesse sets up a Facebook account for Tigger

April 30, 2008 - Tigger has his first conversation on Facebook Chat (with Jennie)

Tigger stayed home with me after my root canal during Christmas break, while the rest of the family went out for dinner. He loves'a Jesse (and Jesse loves him)! (December 22, 2008)

"Tigger the Elf" (December 25, 2008) "His majesty, Sir Tigger Turry Ferguson" (there were three outfits this Christmas) (December 25, 2008)

January 7, 2009 - Debbie slipped on the ice after taking Tigger out to the bathroom and accidentally threw him up in the air. Upon becoming mildly unresponsive (even to treats) and after taking him to the vet, Tigger was diagnosed with "a sore bottom" :) August 8, 2009 - Tigger turns 10! April 10, 2010 - Stace & I say goodbye to Tigger, unaware it would be our last time :( It is hard to summarize and share all that Tigger was and meant to us. What I can offer is a video Jennie took on August 24, 2007 of Tigger having lunch. For those that may not be familiar with Tigger or unable to interpret this video...Tigger was spoiled :) It became worse over time and he eventually demanded that when it was time to eat, you 1) join him and give him all your attention, 2) pour his food out of the bowl onto the floor (only on carpet - no linoleum would do), and eventually 3) hand feed him. It was a pathetic scene but at the same time it was just another trait of Tigger that we came to love and will always remember about him. This video, I believe, best represents Tigger, in 1:30 minutes.

We love you, we miss you... Sir Tigger Turry Ferguson (August 8, 1999 - September 14, 2010)

He wanted to go bye-bye...