Scrim

Follow my adventures after running the Streets of Mid-City in New Orleans HERE!

10/23/2026

TWO YEARS AGO TODAY, WE CAUGHT SCRIM. FOR THE FIRST TIME.

We celebrated. We exhaled. We thought the hard part was over.

HA.

My asscats and Scrim had other plans. More sleepless nights, more searching, and enough stress to make my therapist probably need a therapist.

But today is about how far this little fugitive has come.

When Scrim came to live with me, he was a terrified blank slate. No leash training, no house training, and everyday life as a pet was completely new.

Now he has a social calendar! Daycare with his small-dog super krewe, playtime with Scooby, walks, weekly family dinners with Maverick and Big Poppi, and an education: sit, stay, place, spin, high ten. New Orleans' most wanted now has friends and a deeply concerning dependence on his schedule.

Still neurotic? Absolutely. Strangers are suspicious. Routine changes are unacceptable.

Thunderstorms mean certain death. Dropping the remote? Assassination attempt.

He doesn't try to run away anymore. He comes for reassurance. Humans can mean safety, not just fear.

And yes, he still wears two tracking devices. My blood pressure has suffered enough.

To the Scrim Rescue Team: Thank you for the countless hours, dedication, and refusal to give up.

To New Orleans: You rallied to find a 19-pound dog you'd never met. That's what makes this city the best.

To Dr. Joe and the team at Metairie Small Animal Hospital: Thank you for the excellent care on capture day and ever since.

To Matt at K9 State of Mind: You are THE BEST! Thank you for helping him build confidence and trust.

To everyone cheering near and far: Whether you searched, shared, or hoped he'd be safe, THANK YOU. You were part of his story.

He's still a work in progress. Some days it's a big milestone. Other days it's surviving a spatula hitting the floor.

Two years ago, he was just trying to survive. Today, he's goofy, spoiled, loved, and has friends, a routine, and a safe place to land.

His greatest accomplishment isn't learning tricks. It's learning to trust.

Happy 2nd Anniversary of Your First Capture, Scrim!

We love you, you tiny, neurotic masterpiece.

09/02/2026

Everyone, meet Steven.

Steven is a wig. Specifically, Steven is one of my Mardi Gras wigs that had been living a perfectly normal life hanging on the wall in my costume room, then one of the crazy visiting rescue kitten knocked Steven down, Scrim found him, and apparently Scrim looked at this pile of synthetic Mardi Gras hair and thought: Finally. Someone who understands me.

From that moment on, Steven became Scrim’s best friend. Scrim takes Steven to work. He carries Steven on walks. He sleeps with Steven. He chews on Steven. He drags Steven around the house. And, on special occasions, he wears Steven and ends up looking like Phyllis Diller.

Steven has been through a lot. But relationships are complicated, and sometimes Scrim just isn’t in the mood for Steven.

That’s where Doug comes in. Doug is the backup black wig I got down off the wall for him. Doug doesn’t ask questions. Doug doesn’t cause drama. Doug simply waits patiently for the call from the bench.

So our current household hierarchy is:
Scrim — management
Steven — best friend/emotional-support Mardi Gras wig
Doug — backup emotional-support wig/understudy
Me and the rest of the animals — unclear, but definitely below the wigs

I have purchased this dog approximately 4,000 actual dog toys. He has chosen two wigs.

At this point I have stopped asking questions.

Apparently Scrim has entered his wig era, and the rest of us just live here.

07/31/2026

Mid-Summer Scrim Update

In case anyone was wondering... Scrim continues to excel at being an absolute menace.

He is now a full-time domestic terrorist.

His daily responsibilities include relocating household items without permission, body-slamming stuffed animals, conducting surprise home inspections with his nose, and convincing the neighbors every single morning that he has never been fed in his entire life. They’re completely wrapped around his little paw and show up with treats daily.

At Zeus’ Place, Scrim has appointed himself King of the Office AND Backyard. He spends his days waiting to see if someone will toss him a treat over the desk, lounging in the sunshine while his friends run zoomies around him, and making sure absolutely no one is standing still for too long.

And then there’s Scooby.

Scooby has become the long-suffering older brother. Most days, he watches Scrim’s ridiculous antics from a safe distance with the expression of a dad who’s wondering how this became his life.

Every now and then, though... Scrim wears him down.
It starts with a play bow. Then another. Then a sneak attack. Maybe a drive-by ear nibble.

Finally, Scooby sighs the sigh of a dog who knows resistance is futile... and suddenly both of them explode into full-speed, low-butt zoomies through the house, around the furniture, out into the yard, back through the house, and around again like two absolute maniacs. For a few glorious minutes, Scooby forgets he’s the mature one, and Scrim gets exactly what he wanted.

Watching those two play never gets old.

These days, Scrim’s biggest concern is whether the neighbors remembered breakfast treats and whether he can convince his giant brother to play one more round.

I’d say that’s a pretty wonderful problem to have.

06/13/2026

For those of you wondering how life is going these days, Scrim has apparently decided that Scooby’s personal space is overrated.

In today’s episode of The Adventures of Scrim & Scooby, Scooby was peacefully occupying one of his many beloved tiny beds. (Why a 90-pound dog insists on folding himself into beds intended for a 20-pound dog remains one of life’s greatest mysteries.)

Rather than choose one of the perfectly acceptable dog beds scattered throughout the room, Scrim took matters into his own paws. He dragged a basket containing a blanket from across the room, stole a pillow off the sofa, and carefully constructed his own little sleeping station right next to Scooby.

Not on the other side of the room.

Not a few feet away.

Right. Next. To. Scooby.

The best part? Scooby never asked for any of this.
He was just trying to enjoy his tiny bed when Scrim showed up like an overenthusiastic interior designer and began relocating household items to create what can only be described as a “best friend nest.”

The two of them have become completely inseparable. Where one goes, the other isn’t far behind. They play together, patrol together, nap together, and apparently now coordinate home decorating projects together.

Watching Scrim learn how to dog has been one of the greatest gifts of this entire journey.

04/29/2026

Two years ago today, Scrim pulled off his first great escape and unknowingly launched what can only be described as one of New Orleans’ most stressful, ridiculous, and ultimately heartwarming adventures.

When he finally got himself safely secured in a Trap Dat Cat trap on February 11, 2024, Scrim was essentially a blank slate — terrified, running on pure survival instinct, and living in near-constant flight mode 24/7.

Fast forward 442 days, and this former feral fugitive has fully embraced his new role as beloved family menace.

These days, Scrim enjoys:
• Long walks down St. Charles with his besties Maverick and David “Big Papi” Ortiz
• Daycare at Zeus’ Place, where he runs with a playgroup of 20+ dogs
• Expert-level dog bed interior design (no bed stays where you left it)
• De-stuffing stuffed animals that, frankly, had it coming
• His absolutely legendary army belly crawls that somehow manage to be both ridiculous and adorable every single time
• Long stretches in his fully secure yard with Scooby, where they sunbathe and aggressively monitor the neighborhood for suspicious activity (like bikers, joggers, other dogs on their walks and squirrels)

Watching Scrim transform from a scared, untouchable dog into the goofy, snuggly, belly-crawling, bed-rearranging house goblin he is today has been nothing short of incredible.

I am endlessly grateful to the recovery team, Trap Dat Cat, every single person who searched or shared his location while on the lam and to the incredible city of New Orleans and beyond for loving this dog right alongside me.

Scrim’s story has always been bigger than one dog. It’s been about community, perseverance, second chances, and a whole lot of patience.

Thank you for being part of this wild journey with me.

03/18/2026

Y’all… remember that whole “on the run, laying low, don’t make a sound” phase? Yeah… Scrim don't.

These days, he’s living his front porch on a breezy afternoon life, charging up and down my front stairs like the gates just opened at Jazz Fest and he’s first in line to secure a good spot at the Acura stage and then immediately dropping into his signature belly crawl to try and bait me into playing.

And let me tell you… this boy is COMMITTED to the game.

His personal favorite?
“I chase you, then you chase me” is closely followed by “hide and seek but I dramatically announce myself halfway through”...as my neighbors can attest to.

It is the exact opposite of survival mode… and honestly, it’s the best thing to see.

Watching him feel this safe, this playful, and this full of joy is everything.

From staying quiet and unseen… to zoomies, stair sprints, and belly-flop invitations to play Scrim has officially entered his chaos era and I am here for it.

02/10/2026

Thursday marks one year since Scrim decided he was officially done running the streets and very intentionally placed himself into a cat trap.

I took a moment to scroll back through the photos and videos of him over the past year, and I’m honestly amazed at how far he’s come.

Today felt like another big milestone — his very first groom. We loaded up Scooby and headed to Zeus Place Downtown.

Randi, Blake, and the entire Downtown crew understood the assignment completely. They made both me and Scrim feel safe and comfortable — and even guarded the doors, since this was his first time outside my house without his GPS collar (AirTag included) and the harness that usually attaches him directly to my waist.

And Scrim? He did GREAT.

Me? Total nervous wreck.

He’s going to feel so much better now, and I’ll spend far less time picking leaves, twigs, and mystery debris out of his fur after every walk (I lovingly call him my Swiffer).

Once again, thank you to everyone who made this moment possible.

01/13/2026

It’s been a minute since I posted a Scrim update, so please enjoy these holiday outtakes.

Thanksgiving and Christmas meant a house full of family… which, plot twist: turned out to be great exposure therapy for Scrim. After a few cautious side-eyes, he decided that new humans are actually treat dispensers, not threats. Progress!

During all the visits, Scrim confidently roamed the house, accepted snacks from guests, and even upgraded to full couch-and-bed privileges like the king he believes he is.
He was, however, deeply unsure about one thing: his matching gingerbread pajamas with Scooby. Still processing. Jury’s out.

And outside? Oh, he is thriving. Yard patrol has become his favorite job. Squirrels are on notice. The occasional passing dog is being closely monitored. I feel extremely safe knowing Scrim has security handled.

All jokes aside, seeing him more relaxed, curious, and trusting is everything. Proud of this boy — and grateful for a holiday season full of small wins and big growth

12/09/2025

Y’all… this boy just keeps surprising us.

We’ve been spending a lot of time in the yard lately, and guess what we’re working on? Off-leash time and recall!

In my 100% secure yard and the backyard at Zeus' Place, Scrim has been getting the chance to stretch those short little legs, run zoomies, chase me around, and practice coming when he’s called.

And let me tell you, watching a dog who once ran around the entire Greater New Orleans area finally choose to run back to you is something special. His confidence is growing, his trust is solid, and every day he gets a little braver and a whole lot sillier. (Strangers are still scary, but he is getting better with each positive interaction.)

Seeing him race around the yard without a leash, tail up, ears flying, and then turn on a dime to come back when I call… that’s the kind of progress we dreamed of for him.

Proud doesn’t even begin to cover it.

11/11/2025

🐾 DNA RESULTS ARE IN! I pulled a dog from Terrebonne Parish a few weeks ago that was found a block away from where Scrim was picked up and looked a lot like him!!! Well, hold on to your leashes… Embark confirmed they share 51% of their DNA! Embark said that with 51% shared DNA, they’re considered close family — or as related as human half-siblings, aunts or uncles, grandparents, or first cousins. Warrick is a LOT like Scrim and up for adoption:) I’ll follow up with a video of them together soon:)

Address

4601 Freret
New Orleans, LA
70115

Website

http://www.zeusrescues.org/

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