Long Beach shelter’s longest-stay dog is finally home forever

His name is Gumbo Lee Jones, but until recently, it was just Gumbo. Shelter staff gave him the name when he was brought to Long Beach Animal Care Services (LBACS) in August 2023. He had been abandoned in Coolidge Park in Long Beach and entered LBACS with severe skin issues, open sores on his back and a huge “blockhead smile” on his face, according to shelter staff. He was only 3 years old.

Gumbo’s skin cleared up over time, and his demeanor remained sweet and good-natured. He had his special friends among the volunteers and managed to accumulate a wardrobe of cosplay outfits. He loved dressing up for special events like Valentine’s Day photos and pictures with Santa Claus.

Volunteers and staff did everything to show off Gumbo’s good nature and fun-loving personality. He made frequent appearances on social media and at adoption events and starred in videos the volunteers made. Yet despite his sweet disposition and his fashionista flair, no one came to take Gumbo home. Until one day last year.

Ashley Jones had grown up with a dog and had wanted one for a long time. But her career as a professional dancer who traveled frequently made her unable to commit to a pet’s needs. Then, two years ago, she semiretired from dancing and took on the role of executive director of Partners of Parks, an independent nonprofit that supports Long Beach’s parks and the residents that use them. LBACS is part of the Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine, and it was part of Jones’ duties to work with the bureau. In no time, Jones was perusing pictures of pooches. Freed from her travel obligations, she was ready to adopt, and she was going to adopt from the city’s shelter.

“I had criteria — I couldn’t take a puppy because the time and training for a puppy would interfere with my job,” Jones said. “I wanted a bigger dog, and one who’s low-shed. I have lots of stairs, so the dog needed to be reasonably agile.”

Jones clicked the link on LBACS’ dog adoption page, and there was Gumbo, first dog in the gallery of adoptables. Jones was smitten.

The pets’ positions on LBACS’ gallery of adoptables represent how long each has been in the shelter compared to the others. Gumbo at the time had been in a kennel a few months short of two years, which further aroused Jones’ curiosity.

“I inquired about him March 2, which happened to be Mardi Gras,” Jones said, noting the serendipitous convergence of holiday and Gumbo. “Then a pipe burst in my house, and I had to remodel. That put adoption on hold.”

Meanwhile, Gumbo went into foster and returned to LBACS in June. After he returned, Jones tossed off any last bit of adoption hesitancy, grabbed the car keys, and headed out the door.

“They were actively marketing him — he was about to hit two years at the shelter,” Jones said. “So I thought, I’m gonna go get him!”

When Jones met Gumbo at the shelter, she was charmed by his sweetness and insistence on belly rubs and how he reacted to the volunteers.

“So I said, I have to get some things for my house and I’m coming back,” she said. “[The volunteers] might have thought I wouldn’t, but I did. He’s been the sweetest thing ever since — he doesn’t bark, he doesn’t whine, he loves to play, chew, dress up. and snuggle.”

When Gumbo went home with Jones, Yim and Robert Fusco, Gumbo’s two favorite volunteers, gave them a few of his costumes. Pretty soon, Gumbo had a fashion portfolio on Instagram that would be the envy of Heidi Klum.

On Instagram, Jones came across the America’s Favorite Pet competition. The competition is hosted by actors Jenny McCarthy and Donny Wahlberg and is a fundraiser for its partner, Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). The grand-prize winner gets $10,000, and their furry little mugshots will appear on the covers of Modern Dog and Modern Cat magazines. Jones immediately entered Gumbo.

“At first, I planned on this being a fun, digital photo-fashion show for my family to enjoy,” Jones said. “The next thing I knew, he went into first place and never left! I started taking the competition seriously.”

LBACS created social media presence around the competition and Gumbo’s story. Jones rallied her friends, family and Gumbo fans to vote and talked about the competition, the shelter and Partners of Parks on KLBP radio.

Gumbo and the competition have inspired Jones to launch a similar contest through Partners of Parks during National Pet Month in May. It will be called Long Beach’s Favorite Pet. The competition is planned as a fundraiser to benefit Long Beach Animal Care Services and Partners of Parks, and to give visibility to shelter pets and the pet community here in Long Beach. Jones plans to present it at a March City Council meeting, so groom up your dog, cat, rabbit, hamster, parrot, snake or whatever. Watch for the announcement in Tail-waggin’ and nose-boopin’ events.

Gumbo wins, no matter what

Gumbo has since advanced to America’s Favorite Pets national quarterfinals, which Jones said is the top 1% nationally. If he makes it through the semifinals and emerges as winner, Jones will purchase pet insurance with half the winnings and present the other half to LBACS.

“They took care of him for two years, and most shelters will not do that,” Jones said.

And if Gumbo doesn’t win?

Silly question. Gumbo just went from two years in a shelter kennel to a home where his person wonders how she ever did without him. Winning America’s Favorite Pet would be icing on the cake, or another feather on one of his many caps, but he’s Ashley Jones’ favorite pet. What more could a good dog want?

“I'm not sure why it took him this long to get adopted,” Yim said. “But it's a testament to him that he was always a happy boy during his time there. He handled the shelter well, and was always open to dressing up.”

Not everyone has Gumbo’s luck. Pets who wind up in shelters through no fault of their own often are overlooked and can face euthanasia if they can’t handle being cooped up for long periods.

“A dog in a cage behaves like a dog in a cage,” she said. “It would be like if I never left my room for a year. Honestly, after 48 hours [in my house], Gumbo was a super-happy, smart, relaxed dog! He needed space to move and breathe and play and just be a dog! I couldn’t’ have gotten a better pet match. It would be great for Gumbo to go from LBACS’ longest resident to America’s Favorite Pet.”

Vote for Gumbo as America’s Favorite Pet here. See him in all his Gumbo glory on his Instagram page. Photo courtesy of Ashley and Gumbo Lee Jones.

YOURS DROOLY

“There’s lots of other longtime residents at the shelter, and I hope more of them get seen,” Ashley Jones said. Black dogs and pit bulls receive less attention than others, Jones said. Big dogs also can lose out to the little floofies.

This week’s adoption section is dedicated to LBACS residents like Gumbo. They all deserve to be someone’s loving, beloved house dog. You can see them all on the shelter’s adoption page in the order of how long they’ve been there. The longest-stay residents show first.

Here are four from the first third of the list. To adopt or foster any of them, email PetAdopt@longbeach.gov or petfoster@longbeach.gov, or call 562-570-4925. Shelter hours are Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 7700 E. Spring St. at the entrance to El Dorado Park (no parking fee for shelter visitors).

Zoey (ID#A687132) is a 4-year-old German shepherd/hound mix who’s presently in a foster home, taking a kennel break from stress. Zoey, an affectionate, fun sweetheart, had been taken in as a stray a couple of times. The final time, her owner didn’t redeem her. She deserves better. Let the video show you what a great dog he is.

So, what’s in a name? Piglet (ID#A728690) — they call him Professor Piglet! — is a squat little 2-year-old Staffie who was picked up over a year ago at Rec Park. He was a scared little fellow when he got to the shelter, but as soon as the volunteers and a couple of friendly dogs worked their magic, Piglet came out of his sty. He’s still on the shy side but is awfully cuddly. He’s presently at a foster learning how to be a house dog. Now that Gumbo has gained a loving home, Piglet has taken his place as the longest-staying dog at LBACS. Don’t let him wait any longer.

Onyx (ID#A735201) is another of what LBACS calls its Long-Stay Legends. It’s a sad honor, particularly when you learn about their backgrounds. Onyx was found by the Long Beach Fire Department with another dog in a warehouse after a structural fire. After Onyx and his friend were brought in to LBACS, the other dog was adopted. Then, the owners showed up and redeemed Onyx, and shortly after, he was found again as a stray. Sigh. Onyx is friendly, is easy to walk on leash, and has calm energy but can easily become silly and playful. He has some medical issues related to his age, 7 years old, but he still gets around well. He’ll need special care, which the adoption counselors will tell you about. The only other problem with Onyx is being able to type out his name without making a typo, so come and get him, and change his name!

But uh — are you experienced? With huskies? If so, you might want to adopt or foster Hendrix (ID#A747664). Hendrix is a gentle 3-year-old Siberian husky, with one brown eye and one blue. His fur is so amazingly soft that you’ll want to cuddle with him as soon as you see him. He loves being brushed and enjoys his walkies. Playdates with the other friendly doggies are his favorite pastime.

TAIL-WAGGIN' AND NOSE-BOOPIN' EVENTS

Free Pet Loss Support Group inaugural meeting

The worst day in the life you share with a pet is the day you have to say goodbye forever. Grief is personal on the one hand, and on the other hand, you have a lot of company who get what you’re going through. Helen Sanders CatPAWS rescue gets it, too, and offers a space for anyone who also gets it, who’ll never say to you, “But it was just a cat.” Or a dog, or a rabbit, or a horse, or a goldfish. The members of this group will listen, connect, and support you, and you’ll do the same for them.

The inaugural meeting of the Pet Loss Support Group takes place Saturday, Feb. 21, at 11 a.m. at Bayshore Church, 5100 E. The Toledo, Long Beach. No cost for the meeting, but a count of attendees is needed, so please reserve your space here.

Signal Hill Rotary Club Mutt Run

You still have time to register your dog and yourself, or just yourself, at this brisk competition at the beach. Access this link for information about registering for any of the three races, and find out about the Mutt Run itself here. Long Beach Animal Care Services (LBACS) will be at the event with its Adoption Waggin’ just in case you come to spectate and cheer and find yourself wanting a dog, too! LBACS will receive 70% of the race’s proceeds, and 30% will go to Signal Hill Rotary’s Community Project Fund.

The Signal Hill Rotary Club Mutt Run starts at the Granada Launch Ramp (Rosie's Dog Beach) at 5000 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach. The course follows along the scenic Long Beach shoreline. Park at the 54th and Claremont lot. Please arrive by 7:30 a.m. to allow sufficient time before the race.

Let’s go bowling with Helen Sanders CatPAWS!

When your cat sits up straight, their little head pointing upward, do you think of bowling pins? When they knock the cup that holds your pens to the floor, do you suddenly yell “Strike!”? If you do, you’ll love this event! Helen Sanders CatPAWS 13^th Annual Bowling Fundraiser will give you a great way to focus and vent your energy and support this nonprofit rescue at the same time. Shoes and a snack are included!

Hate bowling? Come anyway and cheer your team on! Bid on silent auction items, and win a prize for your bowling skill or lack of same. Funds will support CatPAWS’ spay/neuter programs for community cats and owned cats and will pay the medical bills for the rescued cats, which will turn them into the adorable adoptables you can see on their Adoptions page and in person at the Seal Beach PetSmart. Purchase tickets here.

CatPAWS’ 13^th Annual Bowling Fundraiser takes place Saturday, March 21, 3 p.m.–6 p.m. at Westminster Lanes, 6471 Westminster Blvd., Westminster. Ticket prices $45 for bowlers, $25 for non-bowlers. Snack is included in both tickets.

Need a low-cost veterinarian, information about trapping community cats, places to volunteer, pet food, veterinary assistance, rescues and shelters to adopt from — anything pet related? Follow this link for resources. Please add your own ideas in the Comments section.