There was a time when we had 2 siamese cats and 2 dogs -one magnificent German shepherd and a cute terrier- all of them lived with us for so many years.
My first siamese,a beautiful point chocolate cat called Pink -he was male but we did not know it until he developed!...we had him since baby and we did not know it was a boy,so I named him Pink! - he was a real conqueror and it killed him,he died of feline AIDS....he was about 8 years when he passed away.

My german shepherd lived 10 years and he died of canine arthritis -most dogs of this breed die between 10 and 11 years due to that disease,it is caused by its own genes-when Dingo -his name- was young,his beauty was superb!,he even won a beauty contest,3rd prize national in Mexico!,but years passed and due to his weight and the cold-wet weather in Baja,he developed the disease and it was terrible to see him suffering in his last years of life,one day he was unable to even eat,we called the vet,he went to home to examine him and there was nothing to be done for him,except ending his suffering,we decided to put him to sleep and he was so sick that he did not even move,I had no the heart to be at the moment of his passing with him but my brothers were there and he was ok,he knew he was not alone while he fell asleep eternally.

Salima -my baby,my girl,my lovely and whimsical siamese-and Falcor -the cute terrier- passed away,it was the most terrible grief,pain and all that is sadness!,they were the ones who survived everything and anything,no big problems while alive,they grew up with us,they saw my brothers and me getting old,the 'parade of girlfriends' of my brothers and some of my former loves too,also the birth of the first granddaughter of my parents,they moved into two different houses where we lived and finally they 'traveled' to this city where we live now,we had to train them for traveling in a pet cage -separated- and without us,because they had to travel into the airplane where the boxes and luggage is stored,Salima was terribly nervous,she could not be away from us and it was a bad time for her alone during the trip,though,both pets resisted and lived here in this new home fine and comfortable,Salima lasted 2 years more,she died 3 years ago,it was summer,she suddenly developed a thing like flu,it complicated and she developed feline pneumonia,we tried all for saving her life,but her age was the problem,she was 18 years old.
Falcor had a similar death,but he developed a kind of tumor into his stomach and it was more because of his age,my poor dog was blind and had lost most teeth when he died.

We loved the 4 pets,they were our babies,brothers and companions,but Salima and Falcor lived with us like a family member and their passing was the saddest thing I have lived,I still cry for them and I tell you my friend,I sometimes get distracted 'listening noises they used to do when they were around home' and I have to remind myself that they are gone,other times I have surprised myself looking around as if I am looking for them,but it is because of that special love and bond developed with them.

As you have said about Tigger,there aren't days when I don't think on them,they are alive in my heart as much as Tigger is and always will be alive into your heart dear Sean and that is the best tribute we can give them,in our hearts,in our minds they will never be old,nor suffer,nor be sick,they will be eternally beautiful,I believe,they are in a very special heaven,where they run free and fine,no danger is there threatening them and some way,they see us,they know we love them and I am sure that the day we leave this world we will meet them again...~Runs for a box of Kleenex~