I found a dachshund adoption story with a happy ending! Hooray! It’s nice to hear a nice one once in a while, eh?

PJStar.com - Journal Star News
Everyone’s a winner in wiener dog adoption

Terry Bibo
NEWS COLUMNIST

Sunday, May 15, 2005

Oscar the wiener dog has long been clean as a whistle … but severe allergies meant his owner had to let him go.

Krystal the part-time dog groomer has long fancied Oscar … but the 48-year-old developmentally disabled woman had no pet of her own.

So a few of their friends decided to put the two together. And then they figured the world needs to hear a nice little dog tale with a happy ending.

“I thought it would be a neat story about a really special person,” says Amee Suydam of GucciPucci, the “dog spa” where pups are pampered at 3309 N. Prospect Road.

Yes, it is. Sometimes what goes around, comes around. So here goes.

Lean and gray-haired, the fast-talking and always-smiling Krystal Seppelt of Peoria has been working at GucciPucci on Tuesdays and Fridays for more than a year.

“I wash dogs,” she says. “Sometimes I dry them. I do cleanup.”

“And you play with the dogs,” Amee prompts.

“Yeah, that’s the best part,” Krystal beams.

Other days, she works at the Community Workshop and Training Center in Peoria, packing boxes and getting things ready to mail. She likes it there - she’ll tell you that three or four times - but working with animals has always been her dream.

“She wanted to do this ever since I’ve known her,” says CWTC counselor Jill Spear.

Of all the dogs at GucciPucci, Oscar was her favorite. Frisky and friendly, the copper-colored 5-year-old dachshund had to come in often because his owner had allergies. Whenever she knew that Oscar was coming, Krystal would beg to work with him, even wearing her “I love my wiener dog” shirt in his honor.

“She is literally nuts about him,” Amee says.

Despite all the extra grooming, severe allergies meant Oscar’s “dad” couldn’t keep him. Knowing how much Krystal liked the dog - and that the feeling was mutual - he cautiously approached Amee and her other co-workers about whether or not Krystal could take him. They all got on the line to Krystal’s counselor, parents and apartment manager to make absolutely sure it would work out before even hinting about the plan … because they knew it would break Krystal’s heart if it didn’t. But everything fell into place right away.

“She was speechless, for once,” Amee said.

Figuring this would be Krystal’s one and only chance to have a “baby” shower, the crew brought cake and punch and gifts to toast the new couple. Oscar’s dad donated all of his toys and gear, as well as the little blanket that Krystal carefully spread at the end of her water bed so the dog could feel at home.

“It’s really nice to always have him there,” she says.

With a little extra effort from her friends, Oscar and Krystal even get to be together part time at work. Oscar isn’t eligible to ride the bus with Krystal, so people take turns picking the duo up, then taking them home after work. And that’s part of the reason Krystal agreed to talk to the newspaper, so she could make sure everyone is thanked properly.

“That’s very important for you to put in there: Both here and at the workshop, I couldn’t have any nicer bosses,” Krystal instructs, making sure helper Lee Dennis and CWTC boss Michelle Payton get credit.

“Are you trying to get a raise, Krystal?” gently teases Jill Spear.

“No …,” Krystal shakes her head seriously. “Some people aren’t that lucky.”

And many of the people who are, don’t recognize it. So here’s hoping that Oscar and Krystal have many long and happy years together.

TERRY BIBO is a columnist for the Journal Star. She can be reached at tbibo@pjstar.com, 686-3189, or (800) 225-5757, Ext. 3189.

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