BRIEFLY IN THE NEWS

Higgens, a yellow Labrador mix found spray-painted fluorescent orange

in Costa Mesa on Jan. 5, was adopted Sunday.

The Orange County Humane Society in Huntington Beach received a rush

of callers and visitors this weekend, after a Daily Pilot article about

Higgens’ plight Thursday, said Julie Douglas, a Humane Society employee.

Higgens’ story sparked a high number of adoptions, particularly of

animals who were longtime residents at the society, she said.

“It was funny because nearly everyone who came down for [Higgens]

ended up adopting other animals,” Douglas said. “There were really a lot

of adoptions, especially considering how slow things have been because of

the rain. And the animals were older ones who have been here a year.”

The society did not release the name of Higgens’ adopter, but Douglas

said the dog should have a happy life ahead of him.

“She’s putting him through all this training and everything,” she

said. “It should be perfect.”