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Until I lost my third Doberman, I was oblivious to this country's abandoned dog crisis.

After my last two red Dobie males died suddenly, I realized the breeder knew of the dogs' genetic cardiac problems but kept that fact to herself. While searching online for rescue Dobies, I was astounded at the number of Dobermans who were dumped.

Over time, I became friendly with Ardis Braun at Dobies and Little Paw Rescue in Fillmore, California. I planned to adopt one of their beautiful Dobermans, but while at a Petco in Reno, Nevada, I passed by a man from a shelter. He had three dogs. Seymour was one of them. He was lying down, with his head on his paws.

A few minutes later, I walked by again.

Seymour still lay in the same position, but he watched me and everyone while not moving his head. Curious, although he looked nothing like my beloved Dobermans, I asked the fellow from the shelter if I could pet him.

The second I leaned down, Seymour stood on his back legs and began licking my face.

I was done. It took a couple of days to persuade my husband, but we adopted him. They said at the shelter that he's a pug/Lab mix, but he's got some pit in there somewhere.

Like all of the stories I read on this site, the first months were tough. His anxiety was over the top anytime we left him. Ten months old when we adopted him, it was obvious he'd been taken away from his mother far too soon. Other dogs scared, sometimes terrified him. Men frightened him. He barked to the point where I had to use a bark collar - ten years later, I still do.

But man, is he smart, loving and eager to please. He'd be perfect on leash if I were a more consistent trainer. And mellow in the house, until the doorbell rings, ergo the bark collar.

Like Dobies, he's a velcro dog - he goes everywhere I do. Once I taught him, he used his fleece toys to calm himself after we came back home. He hates being alone, and my husband and Seymour adore each other.

I regret it took me so long to learn of the hundreds of thousands of beautiful, deserving dogs hoping for a second chance. Never again will I buy a dog from a breeder.

Story submitted by Lin Wilder.

This story was originally shared on The Animal Rescue Site. Share your very own rescue story here!