SUN CITY – When Tiger and Eleven show up in Neighborhood 20, everyone perks up.
As they are pushed around in their customized vehicles, folks come out of their houses to greet them. Residents stop weeding their gardens to say hi, jogging fitness buffs stop and say hello. Even the high school cross country runners sometimes pause and trot over to get a glimpse of the neighborhood celebrities.
When these two appear, it’s a Sun City happening. So just who are Tiger and Eleven, exactly?
Due to age-related health issues, Eleven (left) and Tiger are limited to only short walks, so they enjoy rides in customized pet buggies around Sun City and are becoming famous for cruising in style. (Photo by Chris LaPelusa/Sun Day)
Well, Tiger is a seven-pound yorkshire terrier, and Eleven is a toy poodle, about the same size. But her age is not why she’s named Eleven.
They tool around their neighborhood in their cool vehicles twice a day with the help of owners Rosemary (Roz) Bobrow and Sheree Peck. But you probably have more questions – is this a stunt or joke? Are the dogs a circus act? What kind of vehicles do they ride in? Are Rosemary and Sheree animal rights activists? Do the pooches perform tricks?
The answer to most of the above inquiries is no. Tiger and Eleven are 11-year-old dogs that are aging, just like many Sun Citians. When you age, stuff starts to happen to your limbs, organs, and bodies, we all know how that goes, right?
Unless weather doesn’t permit, every day Rosemary Bobrow (right) and Sheree Peck take Eleven and Tiger for walks in their customized buggies. (Photo by Chris LaPelusa/Sun Day)
Tiger has survived several health issues so far and, at the moment, is dealing with a torn ACL. Eleven (so named because he was born at 11:11 a.m. on December 11), suffers from a bad heart, blood tests have revealed poor circulation. His name is accidentally appropriate this year, because he is 11 years old.
Because of these health challenges, neither dog can run or walk for any significant distance. So they ride around in style, in customized pet buggies that are available in stores or online. Rosemary purchased hers for Tiger about three months ago; Sheree received hers about nine months ago as a birthday present (the Sun Day isn’t sure if that’s Sheree’s or Eleven’s birthday).
“Tiger is the love of my life, and he’s the reason I’m here in Sun City,” Roz said. “My late husband and I lived in Skokie before we came here, and I wanted a dog. I once operated a grooming parlor, and I just love dogs. We couldn’t have pets where we lived [in Skokie]. I happened to see an ad for Sun City in a local paper, and I called and found out we could have pets here. So we obtained Tiger and then came right out here. When my husband became ill a short time later, Tiger rarely left his side. He is such a lovable yet quiet dog. When I have guests over to my house, I just put him in the buggy, and he sits there quietly and enjoys watching the activities.
“Some people move to Sun City because of children or grandchildren,” she said. “We moved here because of a dog. My husband died a few years ago and now my life revolves around Tiger. I am trying, with the help of a veterinarian, to avoid surgery on his leg as long as possible. He wasn’t injured, his leg just weakened when he got older. He’s had so many health problems recently. It’s the same with Sheree. Eleven has trouble breathing. His heart just isn’t pumping blood properly to his body.
“We’re so glad we’ve found a way to give our dogs a way to get outside.”
While the dogs are becoming celebrities with their neighborhood tours, folks have to settle for a lick on the hand instead of autographs.
That’s a dog’s life in Sun City.
