Tigger was born into an abusive family who beat and tortured him during his first year year of life. He was rescued and taken to Canópolis in Barcelona, an abandoned dog refuge led by my sister and brother in law.
He was aggressive and would attack any human who would come close to him, to the point where all the staff were afraid to handle him… staff who were used to handling and rehabilitating dangerous and traumatized dogs. But the one they were truly afraid of was Tigger… a minute little flea of a furball!
Shortly after his arrival, my older sister called my younger sister and said “I have a dog who needs help”… Jess went to see him and before she knew what had happened, this little furry beast of a boy jumped into her car and looked at her as if to say “let’s go mamma, run!” And run she did 😂 Little did they both know that they were rescuing each other that day. Jess had lost her husband to cancer in 2007 and hadn’t found her way back, until she met Tigger.
For the next 10 years, Jess and Tigger went on numerous adventures together. From Barcelona to Zürich, to St Moritz and San Francisco… he was spoiled rotten by a family who adored him.
Now fast forward to 2023. Tigger’s heart started failing him and he started having trouble breathing sometimes. The family started looking for options and found a vet just outside Barcelona who was contemplating the first heart valve clamp surgery in Spain. He was just two weeks away from a surgery that would’ve extended his life. A surgery that is “business as usual” in humans… But Tigger didn’t make it, he left us yesterday. Those who knew him have all felt sadness, most have shed a tear or two or many. He was unique.
If only the echograph machine had arrived in time, Tigger would be in my arms right now asking to play football, and what a ball player he was! I’m still not sure if he was fetching, or whether he’d trained me to fetch… with a flick of his head, he could throw a ball farther than any dog I’ve ever seen. A little flea of a furball had me running 😂
If only, what if… a thousand questions hover over our heads today. But the harsh reality is that he’s gone. But the surgery is coming, and it will save countless other families the pain we feel today.
If you read this and think “it’s a just a dog”, please keep scrolling. But if you, like us, believe in biodiversity and that animals have every right to life and happiness, then think about supporting the veterinary science that will save countless lives in the future. You will help a family smile and watch their little furball go on to live a happy longer life.
Thank you to Hospital Veterinari Molins for their tireless efforts to keep Tigger going, and to Hong Yu MedTech for designing a little heart valve clamp that will save our furballs in the future.
Over and out. Sleep well, Tigger 💔
To donate, please go to http://fundaciontrifolium.org/colabora-trifolium/donaciones/
Please remember to write "TIGGER" when you donate.
For more information on this ground breaking surgery, please go to
https://www.hongyumedtechglobal.com/news/v-clamp-sweeping-europe-spanish-power-drives-a-new-wave-in-the-industry
Thank you 🙏🐶❤️🩹
