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SULLY
Sully
A journey of healing through adoption
OMETIMES THE HARDEST challenges we face lead us to the greatest gifts in life. On July 19, 2016, Crystal Kreider’s life changed forever. Her senior rescue dog, Maizy, lost her life defending their home when an intruder broke inside while Crystal was at work. Devastated, Crystal suffered from depression and PTSD following the tragic incident.
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“The guilt I carried from not being at home to protect her made me vow never to get another dog again,” Crystal said. “It was a pain I had never felt before.” Although Crystal’s friends and family tried to convince her the tragedy was not her fault, Crystal wasn’t ready to share her life with another pet until she saw a Pekingese show up on a rescue’s page. A puppy mill survivor, the small dog required a change himself, and they found each other. “I had a Pekingese growing up, and I had actually applied to adopt one before Maizy had passed. When I saw him, I knew I still had it in me to have an animal.
14 LANCASTER COUNTY PET
by SAMANTHA ST.CLAIR
PEKINGESE ARE BRED TO BE LAP DOGS.
I needed him, and he needed me.” The little dog’s name was Jake, but Crystal renamed him Sully after her favorite hockey team’s coach. It was apparent right away that Sully also had some healing to do. He lived in a rabbit hutch at a puppy mill for five years and didn’t know how to live in the outside world. “He was terrified of grass. He had double ear infections and was missing teeth when I got him. He still doesn’t know how to play with toys,” Crystal explained. But it didn’t take long for Sully to realize Crystal was his person, and the two quickly became what each other needed. “I truly believe he saved my life,” Crystal said. “He survived something major, and he helped me survive.” Sully helped Crystal regain happiness with his silly antics and larger than life personality. “He is so loving. Rescue dogs usually are.” Sully sleeps in Crystal’s bed with his head on her neck, follows her around the house, and enjoys watching hockey games with her on the couch. If she gets up to go the short distance to their kitchen, Sully is immediately by her side. “He is glued to
me and enjoys doing everything with me. He brings me so much joy and unconditional love. If I am feeling bad, he knows it, and he will cheer me up.” While Crystal will always remember her sweet Maizy, Sully helped her heal and find the happiness that Maizy would have wanted for her. “He ended up right where he belongs,” Crystal said. “He saved my life, and I repay him by spoiling him. We’ve been through a lot, but we are good now.”
