date : 5:21 pm - Thursday,February 26, 2004

from : heather

subject : News from Heather Champ 09

message:
Tigger (aka Retired Champion Tiny Mite's Tanner),
Chihuahua par extraordinaire, came into my life
during an unhappy period in my life. It was August
of 1997 and my life in New York was difficult and
rather aimless.

My desire to be guardian to a small dog came
after making the acquaintance of a wonderful Maltese
during the Esquire photo shoot. That wee pup sat
happily on my lap and I was immediately hooked.

I decided upon a Chihuahua after doing some research
and joined the Chihuahua-L email list which led
me to Tigger. We've had a number of remarkable
adventures and he was the easiest travelling companion
(1,500 miles driving around the South West and getting
busted by the Park Ranger at Mesa Verde, the nutty
photo shoot in New Yorkfor the back cover of a stock
photography guide that included a pound of ham, swimming
in Gary Baddeley's Sag Harbor pool, walking on Ocean Beach
with Derek and Chieka, and mooching biscuits and
warm laps from everyone in the Cole Valley Muni Park).

Sadly, last Thursday afternoon, Tigger was attacked
by a larger dog, running off leash through Buena Vista
Park. He passed away almost immediately in the arms of
our walker.

Derek and I have been overwhelmed with the outpouring
of love from our family, friends and community. A number
of our friends have raised $550 which will be donated
to CCRT (Canadian Chihuahua Rescue and Transport), a
group that I was involved with during my time in Montreal,
in Tigger's name.

I am quite bereft without him. He was a special dog who
touched the lives of many and inspired a number of people
to find their own small canine companions.

Tigger will be missed but I don't ever think he will be
forgotten.

Here are a few of my favourite photographs:

http://www.playapixie.org/past/000275.php#000275
http://www.ephemera.org/archives/000102.html
http://www.powazek.com/2003/12/000313.html
http://www.harrumph.com/h/000052.shtml
http://www.harrumph.com/h/000104.shtml
http://www.harrumph.com/h/000080.shtml
http://www.harrumph.com/020707.shtml
http://www.harrumph.com/010920.html

Heather