Dog Returned to Shelter 11 Times Until Staff Realizes He Found His True Home

Gumby arrived at the Charleston Animal Society (CAS) as a stray in September 2014. Over the next year, he returned to the shelter 11 times after being adopted out.

The hound mix, a talented escape artist, constantly ran away from his new homes and ended up back at CAS. The staff soon realized he was trying to tell them something…

© Facebook/Charleston Animal Society

Gumby quickly became known around Charleston for his Houdini-like escaping skills after arriving at the no-kill shelter in 2014.

© Facebook/Charleston Animal Society

The shelter did everything they could to try to find Gumby a forever home, but he kept ending up back at the shelter. He showed back up at their doorstep 11 times throughout the year. They didn’t know what to do.

© Facebook/Charleston Animal Society

His first adoption only lasted three days. The next one, just six. The staff started to warn every family about the dog’s tremendous ability to escape, and the third adopter was determined to make it work.

© Facebook/Charleston Animal Society

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. He was brought back by his adopter two more times.

© Facebook/Charleston Animal Society

In March, 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 in July, Gumby was returned as a stray once again.

© Facebook/Charleston Animal Society

Gumby was adopted for a fifth time in August, this time ending up at a sister shelter of CAS nearly 30 miles away.

© Facebook/Charleston Animal Society

Back to CAS he went only to be returned by his sixth adopter shortly after.

© Facebook/Charleston Animal Society

In December, 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 the screen door!

© Facebook/Charleston Animal Society

The Charleston Animal Society finally gave up on trying to find Gumby a forever home. What they hadn’t realized is 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 became part of the shelter and was even given the title of General Manager. He’d help the team with behavioral demonstrations in addition to playing with the other dogs and spreading his love.

The staff may have put an end to trying 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!