JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — Buggs, the longest resident at the Washington County/ Johnson City Animal Shelter, has spent almost two-thirds of her life in the shelter.

Tammy Davis, executive director of the Washington County/Johnson City Animal Shelter, said Buggs often totes around her emotional support toy. She has been in the shelter for two years.

“When you walk past her cage, she is going to be the dog back there that has a toy in her mouth,” Davis said. “We call it her emotional support toy. There is a train; it’s like this hard toy that she loves and keeps in her mouth. You walk past her cage, she is going back and forth, and you are now saying ‘Hi.'”  

Davis said Buggs is a friendly and strong gal, even after spending nearly 800 days in the shelter.

“She is not really a high-strung dog, but she likes to play,” she said. “She is super sweet. She’s got a lot of energy, so she needs an active family, but she is a sweet girl. She gets overlooked, I think, because she is very muscular and a little low to the ground, but she is actually a very sweet dog.”

Buggs entered the shelter as a stray. Davis mentioned that she should be the only pet in her household and that no children should be around her due to her unfamiliarity with them.

Davis said whoever takes Buggs home will also receive a free fence.

“Let’s say somebody lives by themselves,” Davis said. “They have a nice yard, it’s not fenced in, and they are considering taking Buggs. We can get a fence built, so that would be the best-case scenario for Buggs and the family.”

Davis said the shelter has other dogs that have also been there for over six months, and that preventing long-term residency is a priority.