At eighteen years old, when most dogs are settling into the quietest chapter of their lives, Seymour was standing at a city shelter about to be left behind by the only owner he’d ever known.
Chrissy, a volunteer with Forgotten Now Family Rescue, was there pulling dogs that day when she noticed him in the corner.
He was covered in flea dirt, suffering from a serious infection, and had growths and masses across his body.
His owner had brought him in to be euthanized.
As Chrissy tried to intervene, she watched Seymour cling to the man’s leg, not understanding that the person he’d spent nearly two decades with was about to walk away.
She couldn’t leave him there.
Chrissy took Seymour in as what’s known as a “fospice” dog, a foster arrangement for animals in their final stretch of life.
She expected, at best, a few days or weeks of comfort before saying goodbye.
The infected masses were removed in surgery, thanks to support from a partnering veterinary clinic, simply so Seymour could eat and drink without pain for whatever time he had left.
But Seymour wasn’t finished yet.
What Chrissy describes as the hardest part wasn’t the medical care. It was realizing, in those early days, that Seymour didn’t seem to understand what love was.
He’d flinch, confused, when she reached out to touch him gently.
So she made a quiet decision: however much time he had, she was going to make sure he knew.
@chrissyrescuer January 12th will be burned in my mind forever . It’s the day you came into my life. I begged your owner while dragging you hardly able to stand into the city shelter to please let me take you and him to a vet instead. Please don’t make him walk in that shelter. I knew you were so old and sick. The owner laughed in my face and said no. I watched you cling to his leg. 18 years you gave him and he was at the shelter to euthanize you. I looked at you standing there and signaled to the shelter team I would be taking you. I got you to my car and threw up everywhere from the blood and fluids leaking all over me. The smell of your infected masses. The smell of urine. I wasn’t sure how to even help you but I knew you deserved better than ending at the shelter. I took you straight to the vet for pain control and ready to make the decision to let you go in a loving place if needed. The more I sat with you at the vet I realized you had no clue what love was. I would touch you and your eyes looked confused. I decided we were going to find love before you left. Our amazing partner @goodvetscharlotte saw the same value in you. They agreed to doing your mass removal surgery. I simply wanted them off so you could feel what it’s like to drink water or eat without pain. I thought if I could give you a week of real life and love it would mean the world to me. You started your life being “adopted” 18 years years ago at the shelter and then they tried to take you back when you were of no use. I sat with you the first week and thought just how much I would give to have had you the 18 years, you are amazing Seymour. The days turned to weeks. I am in amazement that today we celebrate 6 months with you. I love you to infinity and beyond my sweet old man. You wait for me at the door. You “yell” at me for cookies 24/7. I can’t imagine life without you. Every family event your front and center in your pjs. Every puppy that comes in you play police like a true Pappy. Seymour I knew you needed me that night but I had no clue how much my heart needed you. we have become best friends and I am yours and you are mine! Happy 6 months Seymour🫶🏻 #rescue #hospice #pittiesoftiktok #myguy #dontleaveme ♬ You and Me – Eldar Kedem
Weeks turned into months. Months have now turned into more than a year.
Seymour is, in Chrissy’s words, kind, loving, and everyone’s best friend. He waits by the door for her. He “talks back” for treats.
He plays supervisor to every foster puppy that comes through the house, and at every family gathering, he’s front and center, usually in his own pajamas.
A dog nearly given up on at the very end of his life ended up teaching the person who saved him just how much a few more months, weeks, or even days can be worth.
What would you have done if you saw him clinging to that leg?
Source: chrissyrescuer