Courtesy Posts

Fig, also affectionately known as Ping, Pingus Amingus, Pig, and Piggle Wiggle, is a 7-year-old, roughly 35-pound girl believed to be a Shiba Inu or Cattle Dog mix. She is spayed. Due to recent financial hardship and housing instability, Fig is not currently up to date on her vaccinations, but she has been remarkably hardy and healthy throughout her life — her person can count the number of soft tummy days she’s had on one hand.

Fig will do best in an adults-only single family home in a quieter or rural setting where she has room to roam and where her barking will not put her housing at risk. Apartment living is not recommended unless excessive barking would not lead to penalties or eviction.

A household with a child is workable for someone with the time, patience, and energy to support Fig through a careful integration period. She would be a wonderful match for a person or couple who enjoys outdoor activities and can confidently manage her reactivity around strangers and other dogs.

Her current person hopes Fig can land somewhere she will be accommodated and cared for, rather than asked to cope with situations she has not been prepared for. Fig has been the best dog in the world to her, and she deserves a calm, easy life with someone who can give her exactly that.

Fig is affectionate, intelligent, and full of personality. She knows sit, down, wait, and scoot, and she responds to “ok” as a release word. She picks up new commands quickly and is decent on a leash — a gentle pull or a soft “ease up” is enough to bring her back. Off leash, she is genuinely wonderful, checking in often and never wandering too far ahead.

She does not chew belongings, dig in the yard, or potty inside. She does not beg for food or counter-surf, even when food is left within easy reach. Her favorite things in the world are bully sticks, any animal-based chew, and gentle scritches on the sides of her neck — find the right spot and she will lean into your hand so completely that you’ll need to hold her up. S

he also gives the kind of “hugs” that feel like a small miracle, wrapping a paw around you and pressing her head into your chest. The fur behind her ears is so soft you can barely feel it.

Fig has severe separation anxiety and is fearful of unfamiliar sounds. She will bark at footsteps, car doors, voices through the walls, and almost anything she cannot see. When she is left alone, her vigilance increases. Her current home uses earmuffs to dampen outside sounds and, occasionally, a soft muzzle during periods of continuous noise.

Fig is also wary of strangers, and the most successful first meetings are quiet ones where the new person simply ignores her and lets her come around in her own time. With other dogs she is nervous but not aggressive — she will pull to greet, and may growl or bark back if barked at first. With cats outside, she may want to chase a runner, but she has never caught or hurt a small animal.

THIS DOG IS NOT IN THE CARE OF THE ALTERNATIVE HUMANE SOCIETY. THIS IS A COURTESY POSTING.

If you think Fig might be the right fit for your home, please email haleverimail@gmail.com with questions and some information about yourself.