Beautiful!  And they are wrong that it can't be "refilled." Fix the leak and use any of the R12 alternatives out there.

Jilian, I missed your reply, apologies. There are several different refrigerants marketed as drop-in R12 replacements.  There is, however, no universal drop-in replacement for R12 in every system engineered for R12. However, there is at least one R12 replacement which will work in any given R12 system.

As Rich mentioned, R420A is one newer product.  Most of them are blends of multiple gases which emulate the temperature/pressure characteristics of R12. One of the problems you may run into when asking modern-day repair people to use them is the available container size versus the demand for the product. There are few R12 systems remaining today. If a shop buys a 30 pound drum of this product they will tie up money in it they may not get back for a very long time. 

There are automotive R12 replacements available in small cans but they are combined of propane and butane, which are not suitable for these systems for a variety of reasons. The extreme flammability is one reason; as is the hydrocarbon content damaging the rubber seals in the older compressors. 

There is refrigerant R152A which is more common overseas, but it is available in the States in small cans, sold as computer keyboard duster. I have used this one extensively with excellent results. It is, unfortunately, something you may or may not have success getting a modern-day service technician to use, because they can't get it via their normal channels and it is marketed as a cleaning product versus refrigerant. A significant factor in its lack of adoption in the States is because it is already available cheaply and has escaped the money game being played with other refrigerants. 

Hope this is interesting!

Sincerely,

David