How will Scrim the stray dog survive the coming cold snap? | Entertainment/Life

Fans of Scrim are fearfully studying the weather forecast as a wave of frigid Canadian air comes our way, bringing chances of freezing temperatures and even snow to Mid-City, where the superstar stray remains at large.

The squad of dog lovers who have tracked Scrim for months is tirelessly scouting the area, praying to round up the recalcitrant rover, before the cold arrives. “He doesn’t have a full coat of fur right now, or a double coat of fur like dogs who are made for cold weather do,” said Michelle Cheramie, owner of Zeus’ Rescues pet adoption organization, “so it is going to be rough for him.”

Scrim is no stranger to roughness, of course. In November 2023, Cheramie rescued Scrim from a Terrebonne Parish animal shelter, where the terrier mutt was in jeopardy of being euthanized, and placed him in an adoptive home in New Orleans.

But Scrim immediately escaped and has since conducted an epic cat-and-mouse game (if you’ll forgive the term) with Cheramie, who is bent on returning him to the safety and comfort of a pet’s life.

Despite being surrounded by would-be captors on a few occasions and repeated dartings with a tranquilizer gun, not to mention a daring dive from a second-story window to escape confinement, Scrim remains on the loose.

For some, he is a symbol of never-say-die independence, but to Cheramie, he’s just a little lost dog, who’s about to start shivering. Cheramie said her team “has put out hay in the areas that we suspect he is sleeping and have trail cams up to monitor those locations.”

“We are also asking the people of Mid-City to put out food, water, and blankets for him and all the other homeless pets,” Cheramie said.

“He is going to be sleeping on the ground more than likely, so he will be cold,” Cheramie said. “Given his small size, that puts him at a higher risk of hypothermia, but I am hoping he is resourceful enough to find a warm area.”

Based on recent sightings, Scrim has visited Lakeview, though he seems to be anchored in Mid-City.

Cheramie asks concerned citizens not to chase the scruffy white dog, for fear of forcing him into traffic or other dangerous situations. Instead, she asks anyone who sees Scrim to text her at (504) 231-7865 with his location, direction of travel, and time of sighting. Scrim sightings are recorded on a regularly updated digital map.