Video: When Life Tried to Dull Her Sparkle, Crystal Kept Shining

Even being tossed out onto the streets and having a collar embedded in her neck couldn’t dull little Crystal’s shine. After being rescued by PETA, she’s now been adopted by a family who adores her—and she’s positively sparkling.

PETA’s Community Animal Project (CAP) fieldworkers were making their rounds through the rural areas surrounding Norfolk, Virginia (where PETA’s headquarters, the Sam Simon Center, is located), in frigid winter weather delivering sturdy doghouses, dry straw, food, water, medicine, and toys to neglected chained dogs when they spotted Crystal. The small white dog running loose in a North Carolina trailer park looked only a few months old. And when they went to check the collar she was wearing, they were taken aback.

The pup had apparently been tossed outside at such a young age that the tiny collar someone had fastened around her neck had cut through her skin as she grew and was now deeply embedded in her flesh. Crystal’s neck was split open and severely infected. CAP workers tracked down her negligent owners and, after a firm conversation about cruelty-to-animals laws, got custody of the suffering dog. They immediately rushed her to an emergency veterinary clinic. And two delicate but ultimately successful surgeries later, Crystal was finally free.

Now came the fun part: showing this little gem that humans can be kind—while finding her the indoor home and caring family that she and every dog deserve.

Crystal met with lawmakers about animal protection laws.

And she got her very own adoption feature on PETA’s website. When a family in North Carolina saw it, they all agreed that this jewel deserved the royal treatment. So they decided to give it to her.

Now in her new home, Crystal can’t stop glowing. She loves to play ball, go to the beach, play chase with her canine siblings, and sleep in her own warm, soft bed. Most of all, she loves her family, and they adore their diamond saved from the rough.

Animals who are hurting, as Crystal was, depend on kind people to speak up and get them the help that they need. Please, never turn your back on an animal in distress. Often, just a phone call to the police is enough to get an animal out of the hands of his or her abusers. And if police or animal control officers refuse to help, please contact PETA. We rescue animals just like Crystal 24 hours a day, seven days a week.