Custody spat over New Orleans escape-artist dog settled with visitation agreement
The wiry terrier named Scrim who had virtually all of New Orleans looking for him while he spent most of the previous year on the run – enduring a hurricane, a historic snowfall and other perils – landed in the middle of an adoption controversy among those who recently brought him to heel again and then wanted to keep him.
But in a video showing them sharing a sofa with Scrim, those who helmed an effort to bring the dog off the streets to domesticity announced a Solomonic solution that would keep all of them involved in his life – though his owner would be a local animal rescue shelter proprietor who had lost him in November and ultimately reneged on an earlier agreement for a key search volunteer to adopt him.
News of shelter proprietor Michelle Cheramie's change of heart had ignited a wave of social media hatred, including accusations of selfishness and her viewing the ungovernable pup as little more than 'a meal ticket' given the viral media attention his abscondence had generated.
Nonetheless, in their video with Cheramie and Scrim, would-be adopters Tammy Murray and Freba Maulauizada pleaded for a stop to the acrimony that had erupted in what seemed like only the latest tale to prove the intense passions that pets can inspire in Americans – and how nothing good can truly last on the internet.
'Please, please … do not hate,' Murray said in the video, after having described herself as 'devastated and really speechless' at her foiled adoption of Scrim in an earlier social media post that prompted the digital pile-on suffered by Cheramie. 'It does not get us anywhere, and it feels awful.'
Zeus' Rescues reportedly first took in Scrim after he was found astray in a south-east Louisiana trailer park on Halloween 2023. He bolted from Cheramie's home in November, doing so by chewing through a second-floor window screen and leaping 13ft on to a driveway.
Scrim was staying with Cheramie – who owns Zeus' Rescues – while he recovered from having earlier gone on the lam for six months after fleeing his then-adoptive family's yard.
He survived summer temperatures above 100F, Hurricane Francine in September and wounds that were suspected to have been inflicted by someone wielding an air pellet gun. He was also missing a chunk of ear as well as several teeth – and had a number of abrasions – when he was caught in October and placed in Cheramie's home to rest and await readoption.
After he skedaddled from Cheramie's home in November, the trail went quickly cold after the batteries in Scrim's GPS collar died within hours. People with nets and tranquilizer darts formed search parties that scoured the city for Scrim on both of his runs, but they came up empty-handed.
He eschewed baits of beef tripe and locally beloved Popeyes fried chicken while making fleeting appearances on doorbell camera videos across New Orleans, earning him international media coverage as well as a large online following within the city and beyond.
Eventually, on 11 February, an apparently hungry Scrim reportedly crawled into a narrow trap designed for cats, was recaptured and returned to Cheramie. She said a veterinary exam and X-rays indicated that Scrim had tapeworms and intestinal parasites but was otherwise in good health.
Murray at that point thought Scrim would be going to the home she shared with her partner, Maulauizada. The animal advocate and furniture designer, who had spent days and nights partaking in efforts to find Scrim, had submitted an application to adopt the dog through Zeus' Rescues and had gained approval.
However, on 18 February, Cheramie announced on Facebook that she had decided to keep Scrim for herself after he had bonded with her dog, Scooby, and had even been received warmly by her cats.
'I had a change of heart,' Cheramie wrote. 'I wanted him to be my dog.'
She acknowledged that Murray and Maulauizada 'took it hard', referred to 'a lot of hurt and pain', and expressed a desire for a time when 'we will all heal'.
Murray herself confirmed that was the case in her own social media statement, writing: 'No words. Devastated and really speechless. 10+ months of my life dedicated to bringing him home to safety. Even made it official and filled out an application and got approved only to be here … not my dog.'
Many sympathized with Murray. One user wrote Cheramie was acting 'selfish … and … isn't putting Scrim's needs before her emotions'. Another wrote: 'She sees him as a meal ticket.' And still another wrote to Zeus' Rescues: 'I think you have showed you can't properly take care of him. This should not be your dog.'
The Louisiana news outlet Nola.com reported that someone telephoned Cheramie and threateningly told her: 'You better never let me see you out on the street.'
The rancorous tone of the dialogue unwittingly set off by Murray's and Cheramie's dueling statements then evidently prompted both to collaborate on defusing it.
Convinced that Scrim was thriving in Cheramie's home, Murray and Maulauizada then essentially dropped their adoption claim to leave him in the care of the Zeus' Rescues proprietor, with assurances that they would still have roles in his life. They also made a conciliatory video with Cheramie and Scrim, on her lap, between them.
An intermittently teary-eyed Murray said in the video: 'Our focus is on Scrim. I hope everyone can celebrate with us that this dog is just doing wonderful.'
Apologizing for the statement that unleashed the backlash directed at Cheramie, she added: We really want this to end on a good note.'
Cheramie, for her part, denied Scrim's measure of fame was a factor in her love for him. She said she was grateful Murray and Maualauizada engaged in 'honest and open conversations' with her about 'a painful situation' – and wanted 'what's best' for Scrim.
'I love the fact that we can have this type of relationship and that we're here now doing this,' Cheramie remarked.
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Newsweek
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Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The U.S. Postal Service is inviting the public to participate in a nationwide vote to revive a beloved piece of American history. Why It Matters The competition is taking place in celebration of USPS's 250th anniversary and ahead of the United States' semiquincentennial in 2026. The Stamp Encore Contest, which is open until the end of September, gives Americans the chance to select a favorite stamp pane from a curated list of 25 bestselling and popular designs from recent decades for reissue as part of the 2026 stamp program. What To Know The contest is open to everyone, with no limit on the number of votes you can cast. The options are varied and include fun choices like Star Wars droids, Disney villains, Mister Rogers, and even Bugs Bunny-themed stamps. Other options celebrate major American milestones and historic events, like the Transcontinental Railroad and the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863. File photo of vintage U.S. postage stamps. File photo of vintage U.S. postage stamps. GETTY The full list of stamps you can vote for is as follows: Art of Disney: Magic (2007) Bugs Bunny (1997) DC Comics Super Heroes (2006) Flag Act of 1818 (2018) Have a Ball! (2017) Mail a Smile (2015) Peanuts (2001) Star Wars: Droids (2021) Wonder Woman (2016) Batman (2015) Charles M. Schulz (2022) Disney Villains (2017) Frozen Treats (2018) Heritage Breeds (2021) Message Monsters (2021) Send a Hello (2011) Total Eclipse of the Sun (2017) Bioluminescent Life (2018) Classics Forever (2016) Emancipation Proclamation (2013) Happy Birthday (2021) Let's Celebrate (2020) Mister Rogers (2018) Star Trek (2016) Transcontinental Railroad (2019) You can view the full range here. The USPS has been busy preparing for its 250th anniversary, which officially falls on Saturday, July 26. A range of USPS-themed stamps was released earlier this week, and events will take place at select Post Office locations this weekend to mark the occasion. What People Are Saying Postmaster General and CEO David Steiner said in a statement: "On July 26th, we proudly observe the 250th Anniversary of the United States Postal Service and mark two and a half centuries of service to the American public. In 1775, our Founding Fathers recognized the importance of creating an institution that could bind the nation together and foster secure and accessible communications between every community in America. The rich and enduring history of the Postal Service demonstrates the strength of their wisdom, and we look forward to providing reliable, affordable, and universal service for generations to come." What Happens Next Voting is now open through September 30 and can be conducted online or by mail. The winning stamp pane will be revealed in May 2026 at the Boston 2026 World Expo, coinciding with national celebrations marking 250 years since the founding of the United States. Until then, the results will remain under wraps.
