Gumby was brought to the Charleston Animal Society (CAS) as a stray. Over the course of the next year, the dog would end up back at the shelter 11 times after being adopted out. It turned out the hound mix was a talented escape artist, and he would constantly run away from his new home and end up back at the shelter. The CAS staff finally realized he was trying to tell them something…
Gumby quickly became known around the Charleston area for his Houdini-like escaping skills after eventually arriving at a no-kill shelter.
The shelter did everything it could to find Gumby a forever home, but he kept ending up back at the shelter. He showed up at their doorstep 11 times throughout the year, and they didn’t know what to do.
His first adoption lasted only three days, and the next one, just six. The staff started warning every family about the dog’s tremendous ability to escape, and the third adopter was determined to make it work.
But the Hound was returned to CAS four more times. On one occasion, a Good Samaritan found Gumby and brought him in. Another time, it was animal control. His adopter brought him back two more times.
Eventually, Gumby was adopted by his fourth family. The shelter hadn’t heard anything about him for four months, and they thought this was it…he’d finally found his forever home. Then, a few months later, Gumby was returned as a stray once again.
A month later, Gumby was adopted for a fifth time, this time ending up at a sister shelter of CAS nearly 30 miles away.
Back to CAS he went, only to be returned by his sixth adopter shortly after.
Around the end of the year, they gave it one more try. Gumby was adopted, but like always, it didn’t last long. The adopter said the dog escaped three times in a month, one of those times busting through a screen door!
The Charleston Animal Society finally gave up on trying to find Gumby a forever home. What they hadn’t realized was that he had a home this entire time at the shelter. Gumby loved the attention given to him by the staff and was comfortable right where he was. He was happy and wanted to stay.
Gumby has always had an uncanny way of comforting the anxious and fearful dogs at the shelter, and they felt like part of him wanting to stay was the fact that he had work left to do.
Gumby officially joined the shelter and was even given the title of General Manager. He helped the team with behavioral demonstrations, played with the other dogs, and spread his love.
The staff may have ended their efforts to find Gumby an adopter, but they never gave up on him.
It’s not a traditional home, but the shelter is the place Gumby has always wanted to be. He’s found his purpose in life.
Additionally, the staff recently discovered that the serum from Gumby’s blood has healing properties. He’s now a blood donor for kittens with eye infections! Just another reason Gumby fits in perfectly at the Charleston Animal Society. We couldn’t be happier for him!
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