Chrissy was at a local shelter pulling some dogs for her rescue, Forgotten Now Family Rescue, when she noticed a very senior dog clinging to his person’s leg in the corner. He’d clearly been neglected and looked very scared — and Chrissy’s heart broke even more when she realized his owner was there to have the dog put down.

“He was caked in flea dirt and the smell from the infection he had was clearing the lobby,” Chrissy told The Dodo.

At that moment, Chrissy made a decision. There was no way she could leave the dog, later named Seymour, all alone to meet his fate. Something in his eyes told her he wasn’t done fighting yet, and so Chrissy decided to take him with her.

“He was immediately thankful for me,” Chrissy said. “He looked at me shocked that I would want to touch him at all.”

Seymour was 18 years old and severely neglected, so Chrissy took him in as a fospice dog. She brought him to the vet to get him looked over and cared for, hoping they could remove the growths and masses from his body. Everything was to make Seymour more comfortable for his final days, weeks or months. No one thought he had much time left — but Seymour proved everyone wrong.

@chrissyfnfI can’t believe today marks 1 year with you. January 11th last year I watched your owner dragging you toward the shelter door. Your old legs couldn’t keep up and you were so confused clinging to who you thought was your person . The rotting skin and tumors smelled so bad you actually were clearing out the lobby area.There was no way I would let your old bones go lay on that floor to die alone. I was only at the shelter to help my friend finish up our other intakes we were taking from that shelter quickly. I was there just at the right moment and our hearts were absolutely meant to be. You could hardly walk and your face was infected from the growths being untreated. I will never forget your face looking up at me while I was kicking off my favorite heels in the parking lot because your big self couldn’t walk any further – I had to carry you. You stared at me like what are you even doing? you look crazy- no way you can carry me .. You had no clue the amount of times I would carry you over the next year. The vets told me maybe even only a few days but removing those masses was only way to make you comfy.. so we did it. I brought you home and promised to show you all the things I wish you had before. My mission to save your heart started … little did I know you would save me instead. Pappy seymour this year has been the biggest gift to me. You have become the face that greets me every time I get home. You wait for me like I am your whole world. We became best friends. I so badly longed to have holidays and celebrate with you. I prayed about it a lot. I can’t believe we have now had them all. My prayers were answered. Today marks 1 full year. We have done it all. You celebrated every one of our family birthdays stealing bites of cake always , you dressed up with the kids for Halloween, we snuggled by the Christmas tree with cookies. Every single moment this year you have made my life so much better. I am yours and you are mine. Best friends forever. Here’s to a year seymour ❤️ I pray for so many more memories. I ask today if everyone could donate $1 in honor of his 1 year to help our rescue. 💰Venmo:‘forgottennowfamily 💰PayPal: [email protected]#hospice#fosteringsaveslives#myguy#youandme#dontbullymybreed❤#pittiesoftiktok#forgottennowfamilyrescue♬ You and Me – Eldar Kedem

“We expected a short hospice time with him, and even a few days in comfort would be worth it to me,” Chrissy said. “Instead he has given me 13 months and going strong!”

In just one day, Seymour went from neglected and unwanted to a cherished member of Chrissy’s family, and the sweet senior pup couldn’t believe he got so lucky.

“Seymour is the best there ever was,” Chrissy said. “His heart is so kind. He is everyone’s best friend.”

It’s been over a year since Seymour joined Chrissy’s family, and she’s grateful for him every day. His life was hard, but now he knows what love is, and his family is determined to cherish every single moment they get with him.

“I was there just at the right moment and our hearts were absolutely meant to be,” Chrissy said.