Today, the Tunica Humane Society bids farewell to a truly extraordinary soul — our oldest rescue, our quiet warrior, Tiger.

At nearly 17 years old, Tiger wasn’t just another dog in our care. He was a living piece of our history — one of the very first dogs we ever brought into the Tunica Humane Society during our earliest and most uncertain days. Alongside his siblings and their devoted mother, Tiger was rescued from a situation without hope, a symbol of our mission to protect the vulnerable and speak for those with no voice.

In the years that followed, we lost the rest of that rescued family, one by one. Each goodbye was hard. Each one left a mark. But Tiger remained — a survivor in the truest sense. He was always there, through every chapter, every storm, every joyful rescue and painful loss. Even as time took his hearing and clouded his sight, his spirit never dimmed. He still found his way back to us, every day, quietly and surely, as if to say, “I’m still here. I still matter.”

I’ve spent nearly a quarter of my life beside this remarkable dog. I remember him as a curious, energetic puppy — full of spark, full of mischief. As he matured, his personality deepened. He was selective, opinionated, and independent — not every person or pup made it onto his “approved list” in those early days. But to those he accepted, he gave his whole heart. And over the years, that heart only grew gentler, wiser, softer. Age didn’t take his strength — it refined it.

Tiger became our constant. A steady presence in a world that always seemed to be changing. In many ways, he represented the soul of the Tunica Humane Society — the very best of what we stand for. We are not just a shelter. We are a sanctuary for the broken, the forgotten, the hard-to-place, the ones other rescues may overlook. Tiger was all of that once — and in loving him, we were reminded why we do what we do.

Tonight, the silence is heavier than usual. There is a stillness in our home that feels unnatural. Our hearts are tender, aching, full of memories that suddenly feel sharper in the absence of his quiet presence. This morning, Tiger was still himself — slow, but moving, padding gently through the playground he knew like the back of his paw. Jackie and I sat together, watching him, talking about him, trying to pretend we didn’t feel what we already knew deep down: his time was drawing near.

We hoped. We always hope. But by late afternoon, the truth could no longer be ignored. Tiger lay down and couldn’t find the strength to rise. His body, so faithful for nearly 17 years, was telling us it was time. Watching him surrender was devastating — but it was also sacred. It was the final gift of a dog who had given us so many. He allowed us to be with him, to hold him, to ease his passing, just as we had eased so many of his days.

I keep thinking of the lyrics from a country song I’ve always loved:
“Hold on for as long and as hard and as fast as you can… till you can’t.”
That’s who Tiger was. That was his spirit — brave, enduring, and fiercely loyal. He held on — for us, for himself, for the life he came to love.

We are forever grateful to Dr. Lisa Godfrey, who came to us tonight with such compassion and grace. She met us at our van, so Tiger would not have to step into a sterile room or feel fear in his final moments. He passed peacefully, in my arms, surrounded by love, enveloped in the familiar warmth of those who had always been his family.

Tiger’s legacy doesn’t end with his passing. It lives on in every rescue who comes through our doors. It lives in the compassion we offer to the broken, the frightened, the ones the world has failed. His story is a reminder that every life has value. That every soul — no matter how aged, how damaged, how overlooked — is worthy of love, safety, and dignity.

Tonight, our grief is real. But so is our gratitude. We are grateful for every year, every day, every moment with Tiger. We are grateful that he knew love, that he never had to wonder if he mattered. We are grateful that we could walk with him from his first steps to his last.

Rest gently now, sweet Tiger. You were never “just” a dog. You were our companion, our teacher, our inspiration. You helped define who we are. Your paw prints are on our hearts forever.

Thank you for your years. Thank you for your love. Thank you for reminding us what rescue truly means.
You are forever a part of this family — in our memories, in our mission, and in every soul we continue to save.