{"id":186599,"date":"2026-02-20T21:34:09","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T21:34:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/186599\/"},"modified":"2026-02-20T21:34:09","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T21:34:09","slug":"long-beach-shelters-longest-stay-dog-is-finally-home-forever","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/186599\/","title":{"rendered":"Long Beach shelter\u2019s longest-stay dog is finally home forever"},"content":{"rendered":"

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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<\/a> (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 \u201cblockhead smile\u201d on his face, according to shelter staff. He was only 3 years old.<\/p>\n

Gumbo\u2019s 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\u2019s Day photos and pictures with Santa Claus.<\/p>\n

\"A\u201cWe became buds when he let me put on the gingerbread costume for Christmas,\u201d volunteer Ricky Yim said. Gumbo obviously found a kindred spirit in Yim. Photo courtesy of Long Beach Animal Care Services<\/p>\n

Volunteers and staff did everything to show off Gumbo\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s needs. Then, two years ago, she semiretired from dancing and took on the role of executive director of Partners of Parks<\/a>, an independent nonprofit that supports Long Beach\u2019s parks and the residents that use them. LBACS is part of the Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine<\/a>, and it was part of Jones\u2019 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\u2019s shelter.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had criteria \u2014 I couldn\u2019t take a puppy because the time and training for a puppy would interfere with my job,\u201d Jones said. \u201cI wanted a bigger dog, and one who\u2019s low-shed. I have lots of stairs, so the dog needed to be reasonably agile.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jones clicked the link on LBACS\u2019 dog adoption page<\/a>, and there was Gumbo, first dog in the gallery of adoptables. Jones was smitten.<\/p>\n

The pets\u2019 positions on LBACS\u2019 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\u2019 curiosity.<\/p>\n

\u201cI inquired about him March 2, which happened to be Mardi Gras,\u201d Jones said, noting the serendipitous convergence of holiday and Gumbo. \u201cThen a pipe burst in my house, and I had to remodel. That put adoption on hold.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were actively marketing him \u2014 he was about to hit two years at the shelter,\u201d Jones said. \u201cSo I thought, I\u2019m gonna go get him!\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I said, I have to get some things for my house and I\u2019m coming back,\u201d she said. \u201c[The volunteers] might have thought I wouldn\u2019t, but I did. He\u2019s been the sweetest thing ever since \u2014 he doesn\u2019t bark, he doesn\u2019t whine, he loves to play, chew, dress up. and snuggle.\u201d<\/p>\n

When Gumbo went home with Jones, Yim and Robert Fusco, Gumbo\u2019s two favorite volunteers, gave them a few of his costumes. Pretty soon, Gumbo had a fashion portfolio on Instagram<\/a> that would be the envy of Heidi Klum.<\/p>\n

Jones and a few volunteers produced a biopic of Gumbo\u2019s journey home for his IG page. Video courtesy of LBACS, Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine, and the city of Long Beach<\/p>\n

On Instagram, Jones came across the America\u2019s Favorite Pet<\/a> competition. The competition is hosted by actors Jenny McCarthy and Donny Wahlberg and is a fundraiser for its partner, Progressive Animal Welfare Society<\/a> (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.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt first, I planned on this being a fun, digital photo-fashion show for my family to enjoy,\u201d Jones said. \u201cThe next thing I knew, he went into first place and never left! I started taking the competition seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n

LBACS created social media presence around the competition and Gumbo\u2019s 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.<\/a><\/p>\n

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\u2019s 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\u2019 and nose-boopin\u2019 events.<\/p>\n

Gumbo wins, no matter what<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Gumbo has since advanced to America\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey took care of him for two years, and most shelters will not do that,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n

And if Gumbo doesn\u2019t win?<\/p>\n

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\u2019s Favorite Pet would be icing on the cake, or another feather on one of his many caps, but he\u2019s Ashley Jones\u2019 favorite pet. What more could a good dog want?<\/p>\n

\u201cI’m not sure why it took him this long to get adopted,\u201d Yim said. \u201cBut 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Not everyone has Gumbo\u2019s luck. Pets who wind up in shelters through no fault of their own often are overlooked and can face euthanasia if they can\u2019t handle being cooped up for long periods.<\/p>\n

\u201cA dog in a cage behaves like a dog in a cage,\u201d she said. \u201cIt 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\u2019t\u2019 have gotten a better pet match. It would be great for Gumbo to go from LBACS\u2019 longest resident to America\u2019s Favorite Pet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vote for Gumbo as America\u2019s Favorite Pet here<\/a>. See him in all his Gumbo glory on his Instagram page<\/a>. Photo courtesy of Ashley and Gumbo Lee Jones.<\/p>\n

YOURS DROOLY<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s lots of other longtime residents at the shelter, and I hope more of them get seen,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

This week\u2019s adoption section is dedicated to LBACS residents like Gumbo. They all deserve to be someone\u2019s loving, beloved house dog. You can see them all on the shelter\u2019s adoption page<\/a> in the order of how long they\u2019ve been there. The longest-stay residents show first.<\/p>\n

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).<\/p>\n

Video courtesy of LBACS.<\/p>\n

Zoey (ID#A687132) is a 4-year-old German shepherd\/hound mix who\u2019s 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\u2019t redeem her. She deserves better. Let the video show you what a great dog he is.<\/p>\n

\"APiglet<\/p>\n

So, what\u2019s in a name? Piglet (ID#A728690) \u2014 they call him Professor Piglet! \u2014 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\u2019s still on the shy side but is awfully cuddly. He\u2019s 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\u2019t let him wait any longer.<\/p>\n

\"AOnyx<\/p>\n

Onyx (ID#A735201) is another of what LBACS calls its Long-Stay Legends. It\u2019s 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\u2019ll 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!<\/p>\n

\"AHendrix<\/p>\n

But uh \u2014 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\u2019ll 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.<\/p>\n

TAIL-WAGGIN’ AND NOSE-BOOPIN’ EVENTS<\/p>\n

Free Pet Loss Support Group inaugural meeting<\/p>\n

\"APhoto courtesy of Helen Sanders CatPAWS<\/p>\n

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\u2019re going through. Helen Sanders CatPAWS<\/a> rescue gets it, too, and offers a space for anyone who also gets it, who\u2019ll never say to you, \u201cBut it was just a cat.\u201d 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\u2019ll do the same for them.<\/p>\n

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<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Signal Hill Rotary Club Mutt Run<\/p>\n

\"APhoto courtesy of Signal Hill Rotary Club<\/p>\n

You still have time to register your dog and yourself, or just yourself, at this brisk competition at the beach. Access this link<\/a> for information about registering for any of the three races, and find out about the Mutt Run itself here<\/a>. Long Beach Animal Care Services<\/a> (LBACS) will be at the event with its Adoption Waggin\u2019 just in case you come to spectate and cheer and find yourself wanting a dog, too! LBACS will receive 70% of the race\u2019s proceeds, and 30% will go to Signal Hill Rotary\u2019s Community Project Fund<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s go bowling with Helen Sanders CatPAWS!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

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 \u201cStrike!\u201d? If you do, you\u2019ll love this event! Helen Sanders CatPAWS<\/a> 13th 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! <\/p>\n

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\u2019 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<\/a>. Purchase tickets here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

CatPAWS\u2019 13th Annual Bowling Fundraiser takes place Saturday, March 21, 3 p.m.\u20136 p.m. at Westminster Lanes, 6471 Westminster Blvd., Westminster. Ticket prices $45 for bowlers, $25 for non-bowlers. Snack is included in both tickets.<\/p>\n

Need a low-cost veterinarian, information about trapping community cats, places to volunteer, pet food, veterinary assistance, rescues and shelters to adopt from \u2014 anything pet related? Follow this link<\/a> for resources. Please add your own ideas in the Comments section.<\/p>\n

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