As he outwits a determined group of people equipped with night-vision binoculars, nets, and a tranquilizer weapon, the notorious little fugitive is again on the loose in New Orleans (AP).
As he avoids being apprehended by the volunteer posse, Scrim, a 17-pound mutt that is primarily terrier, has become a folk hero, inspiring tattoos, t-shirts, and even a ballad.
Scrim also has a backstory, much like any other antihero: Adopted from a shelter after being rescued from a semi-feral life in a trailer park, the dog escaped in April and wandered around the city until he was discovered in October and taken to a new home. He’d had enough after a few weeks. In a desperate move captured on camera and now going viral, Scrim jumped out of a second-story window. He has since walked freely in spite of numerous sightings every day.
Myra and Steve Foster, who composed Ode to Scrim to the tune of Ricky Nelson’s 1961 smash song, I’m a Travelin Man, are among the dog’s admirers.
As a traveling dog, I’ve stopped frequently across this town.
Michelle Cheramie, a 55-year-old former IT professional, is spearheading the recapture effort. After Hurricane Katrina devastated her home, car, and belongings in 2005, she discovered that saving pets was her calling.
Cheramie stated, “This is what I should be doing,” and I thought that. I was created to save lives.
She founded Zeus Rescues, a charity shelter that provides free pet food to anyone in need and currently sees 600 adoptions of cats and dogs annually. She assisted Scrim in locating the house from which he initially fled.
Cheramie’s window was it. In November, Scrim jumped. Since then, she has continued her unrelenting quest, hanging flyers on telephone poles and updating social media with his alleged location. She has spent thousands of dollars on thermal sensors, wildlife cameras, and other equipment. She enrolled in a San Diego Zoo seminar on the nuances of animal tranquilization.
Additionally, she has established a network of volunteers—neighbors who are prepared to conduct a city grid search at three in the morning.
And I have at least one beautiful person’s heart at every stop.
Individuals such as author David W. Brown, who oversees a Google Map of all confirmed Scrim sightings that is crowdsourced. He claims that locals from all walks of life have united as a result of the hunt. They distribute goods to those in need while they look for Scrim.
According to Brown, being a part of the community means recognizing issues and trying to improve the lives of the locals and the animals.
And neighbors like Tammy Murray, who lost her father to Parkinson’s disease and had to close her furniture business. She claims that this search restored her mojo.
“I’ve literally been hunting this dog for months,” said Murray, 53. With him, I feel like Wile E. Coyote every single day.
Murray steers the Zeus Rescues van in the direction of alleged Scrim sightings. Additionally, she is in charge of a tactical net launcher, which resembles an enormous spotlight and once misfired, breaking the van’s window as Scrim drove off.
Murray switched to a Vespa scooter for stealth after noticing Scrim had become accustomed to the sound of the van’s diesel engine.
Stop over and have a look at my adorable little mini poodle if you’re ever in the 9th Ward.
The close calls have been intriguing. After seeing Scrim dozing under a raised home, the search team erected construction netting around the area, but an overly zealous volunteer broke ranks and went ahead, creating a gap that Scrim was able to exploit.
Due to Scrim’s frequent misadventures, he has a loyal online following and almost daily local media coverage. Cheramie understands.
All of us are rushing toward or away from something. She said, “He’s doing that too.”
The goal of Cheramie’s team is to find the dog a loving and secure home. However, there is a rising social media chorus advocating for the runaway to be given the freedom to make their own decisions under the hashtag #FreeScrim. That is misguided, according to the animal rescue volunteers.
Cheramie stated that a dog should not be allowed to roam the streets of New Orleans. It’s too risky.
with my Shar-Pei doll in ancient Treme, waiting for me to come back
When Cheramie briefly re-captured Scrim in October, he was in a state of disarray, with matted fur, missing teeth, and a damaged ear. Several missiles perforated his shaking body, which was also scratched and damaged. A veterinarian took one out, but chose not to operate to remove a potential gunshot.
At first, the dog seemed happy indoors, either dozing next to Cheramie’s bed or sitting in her lap. One day, when she was out, Scrim gnawed through a mesh screen, fell thirteen feet to the ground, and then slipped through a hole in the fence and trotted off.
Murray claimed that he was likely frightened by Cheramie’s four cats.
Murray stated, “I firmly think the gangster-ass cats were playing tricks on him.” Cheramie believes they might have become possessive.
The two are reevaluating where Scrim would fit best—possibly a safe animal refuge with large outdoor areas where other dogs can keep him company—despite their disappointment.
“Somewhere where I can just breathe and be,” Murray explains.
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Brook is a member of the Statehouse News Initiative’s Report for America/Associated Press corps.A nonprofit national service initiative called Report for America places reporters in local newsrooms to explore topics that aren’t often covered. Follow Brook at @jack_brook96 on social media site X.
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