Meet Higgins, better known as Higgy Piggy, the delightful therapy dog owned by Laura DeVasier and proudly sponsored by Ark-La-Tex Therapy Dogs. Born as one of thirteen puppies, his early life had dramatic flair when Hurricane Laura swept through just four weeks after his birth! Higgy Piggy's arrival at the DeVasier home couldn't have been more timely, joining the family just days before Laura lost her mother-in-law. This charming, sweet pup quickly became the family's emotional anchor, providing comfort and solace as they navigated their grief, foreshadowing his future calling as a therapy dog. This slightly willful but always curious canine boasts an impressive trick repertoire: he'll bark on command to a "mic check," adorably reverse direction to "beep beep beep," and immediately roll over for belly rubs when asked "where is your belly?"-proving that even the most independent dogs can be motivated by the right cues. Higgy Piggy's palate is decidedly anti-vegetarian, enthusiastically accepting any treat that isn't a fruit or vegetable, with a special weakness for whipped cream! When not sampling human snacks, he can be found pursuing his favorite activities: swimming with boundless enthusiasm, embarking on off-leash explorations, or socializing with every two-legged creature he encounters. Sleep is a strictly human-adjacent activity for Higgy Piggy, with mornings reserved for extra cuddly bed time and workdays spent napping under desks near his favorite people. His most endearing nighttime ritual involves dragging around his very first Christmas present, a stuffed horse his same size, and sharing a bean bag with it in a heartwarming display of toy loyalty. While he wishes his feline sister would view him as a potential buddy rather than competition for human attention, Higgy Piggy remains undeterred in his optimism. Fashion-forward and confident, he happily sports headbands, hats, bandanas, and neck ties-even proudly wearing a single reindeer antler as Max during a Christmas reading event at Bossier Central Library.

Between his official therapy dog duties bringing comfort to those in need, Higgy Piggy enjoys "retail therapy" of a different sort-visiting stores and meeting new admirers. From his hurricane beginnings to his life of service, this delightful dog continues to make waves wherever he goes, swimming through life with enthusiasm and bringing joy to everyone fortunate enough to cross his path.