The love we share with our dogs should last a lifetime. They feel our devotion and trust that we will stay by their side through every stage of life.
Sadly, not all pups are that lucky. Some pour their hearts into families who later abandon them when age sets in.
Seymour, a gentle senior dog, knows this pain all too well.
After giving eighteen years of loyalty to his owners, they led him into a shelter and requested that he be put to sleep. The frightened dog clung desperately to his owner’s leg, as if he sensed what was about to happen.
A Plea In His Eyes
Chrissy, a rescuer with Forgotten, Now Family Rescue in Charlotte, North Carolina, happened to be at the shelter that day. She was preparing to transport several dogs when she noticed Seymour being led inside.
The senior pup could barely walk. His body was weak, his fur was coated in flea dirt, and the smell from his infections filled the lobby.
“He was caked in flea dirt and the smell from the infection he had was clearing the lobby,” Chrissy told The Dodo.
Seymour looked up at his owner with sorrowful eyes, holding onto his leg as if begging not to be abandoned.
Chrissy overheard that Seymour had lived nearly two decades with his family. Instead of caring for him in his twilight years, they were asking that he be euthanized.
Her heart broke. In that moment, she knew she could not let him face such an ending.
She and fellow rescuer Carcy offered to take Seymour to a vet, but his owner refused. When he eventually walked out, Seymour stayed behind, confused and searching for the people who had just left him.
Chrissy quietly signaled to the shelter staff that she would take him herself.
A Second Chance At Life
Chrissy knelt beside Seymour, gently stroking his head. For the first time in his life, he felt compassion. He seemed startled at her touch, unsure what it meant to be loved.
Because Seymour had several growths and masses on his face and body, Chrissy brought him home as a fospice pup. She wanted him to spend his remaining days in comfort, not loneliness.
At the vet, his tumors were removed, and with medication and care, he began to heal.
Back at Chrissy’s house, Seymour was surrounded by warmth and affection. Her entire family, including the children, welcomed him with open arms, showing him what a real home felt like.
Although many assumed he had only weeks to live, Seymour defied expectations.
“We expected a short hospice time with him, and even a few days in comfort would be worth it to me. Instead he has given me 13 months and going strong,” Chrissy added.
With each passing day, Seymour blossomed. No longer unwanted, he was now cherished. His sweet spirit won over everyone in Chrissy’s family, and they treasured every moment with him.
Chrissy feels grateful that fate brought them together.
“I was there just at the right moment and our hearts were absolutely meant to be,” Chrissy said.
Today, Seymour enjoys his golden years in Charlotte, North Carolina, surrounded by unconditional love.
Every walk, every cuddle, and every kind gesture reminds him that his life matters. After years of neglect, he is finally living the way he was always meant to: safe, happy, and adored.