Gumby is a dog of action that could not be contained. As a hound, he had the tendency to wander. And over the years he became quite the escape artist. According to BarkPost, Gumby was about 3 or 4-year-olds when he was found wandering the streets of South Carolina and taken in by the Charleston Animal Society.
He was handsome, healthy, and exceptionally friendly, so the staff at the Charleston Animal Society didn’t think twice about whether or not he’d be adopted.
And he was. They just miscalculated how long he would be adopted for. His first adoption lasted an entire three days. His second adoption only lasted six.
Gumby spent the next two years being adopted and returned back to the shelter. He was taken back by to the shelter his adoptive parents eight times and was picked up off of the street three times.
His adoptive families just didn’t know what to do with him because he would constantly escape.
Finally one of the staff members at Charleston Animal Society figured out why Gumby would always return to the shelter.
“He knows he has work to do,” Behavior Team Leader Donya Satriale said.
It was discovered that Gumby had a special skill. The Charleston Animal Society’s staff discovered that Gumby is an empath and has the ability to comfort incoming dogs who are experiencing fear and anxiety.
So instead of continuing to try and place Gumby in a new home, he now works with Satriale on her team and lives in the shelter. He serves as the “Ambassa-Dog” and helps with behavioral demonstrations and helping new dogs adjust.
Thankfully, the Charleston Animal Society is a no-kill shelter. If they hadn’t been, Gumby may have faced a different fate.
Gumby also has a second job at the Charleston Animal Society. He helps to heal sick kittens with eye infections. Gumby donates blood every two weeks which is used to help the cats get over their infections.
“Gumby gives back! Remember Gumby the white hound who returned to the shelter 11 times and now is our playgroup King?” the Charleston Animal Society wrote on their Facebook page. “Well, he is now a blood donor for kittens with eye infections! We draw his blood every two weeks extract the white blood cells from his blood and administer to the kittens’ eyes! (Healing eye drops) The serum from his blood has healing properties! Opie will heal faster.”
You can help the Charleston Animal Society help dogs like Gumby by checking out their website and making a donation here.
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