Tigger had always been a calm and tender older dog who deserved to spend his later years in a quiet place filled with affection, steady care, and simple comfort.
Unfortunately, the people he depended on did not share that view.
They brought him to a shelter in Atlanta, Georgia and surrendered him without hesitation. At twelve years old, Tigger suddenly faced a world that had shrunk to a small kennel.
He had no way to understand why the family he trusted had walked away from him. He rested on the cold floor with his head low, weighed down by sadness and uncertainty, feeling more alone than he ever had before.
Added To The Euthanasia List
The shelter was filled beyond capacity, and because of the overwhelming number of animals, Tigger was added to the euthanasia list. He did not know that time was slipping away for him. With only hours left, his chance at a future was nearly gone.
When Erica Perets, founder of the nonprofit RescueMeATL, heard about Tigger and learned that no one had shown interest in adopting him, she felt compelled to intervene.
She made the decision to go to the shelter, meet him in person, and share his situation online in hopes that his story would reach someone willing to give him a home.
Seeing Tigger for the first time left Perets heartbroken. He was asleep on the kennel floor, and for a moment she could hardly bring herself to disturb him.
“So when I saw Tigger, I almost didn’t wake him, because his dreams had to be better than here,” she later wrote on Instagram.
When he opened his eyes and noticed her, he tried to rise with eager hope, grateful simply to have someone there. His legs, worn from age and stress, buckled beneath him and he slid across the kennel floor without control.
The sight overwhelmed Perets. She longed for him to have softness and security instead of weary bones, hard surfaces, and the noise of scared dogs surrounding him.
“… All I could think about is that he deserved beds, yoga mats, and warm baths, instead of achey bones, slipper floors, and crying dogs,” she added.
Tigger’s Second Chance
Perets recorded Tigger as he moved slowly around an outdoor kennel, his tail gently wagging as if he were determined to stay hopeful despite everything. His spirit showed through in each small step.
She ended her post with a genuine plea for help:
“If you can give 12-year-old Tigger his senior years he deserves please come quickly because he’s out of time. Deadline tomorrow Thursday 6/26 at 7 p.m.”
Her message reached countless people who felt touched by the reality of his situation.
Several offered support, inspired by his gentle nature and quiet perseverance, and among them was a compassionate person ready to welcome him permanently.
When Tigger finally met the individual who would become his new human, he lit up with joy. The sorrow that once filled his eyes had lifted. He understood that he was safe at last.
After coming so close to losing everything, Tigger is now spending his golden years in a home that offers him warmth, attention, and the peaceful life he always needed.