I haven't met the famous Scrim yet, but I hope to meet him someday.

It's amazing how a little dog has become so fascinating, so interesting that thousands of people love him, like him or are simply curious enough to know his every move.

I get it. It's a cool animal story. It's a wacky dog story.?

There's mystery and suspense.

There are unexpected twists and turns.

NO.scrimmap.adv

A Google map, maintinaed by tech-savvy dog lover David Brown, tracks Scrim, the legenday escaped dog's movelments. His travels on day 1, Nov. 15 are marked with olive-colored pins. Day 2 are marked in green, Day 3 are blue, day 5, red.??

We're pulling for Scrim, and most want to know that he's safe.

I do, too.

But enough of this voyeurism.

I'm ready for a heart-warming Scrim ending.

It's time for Scrim to determine his life.

NO.scrimonvideo.adv

Scrim fuels up with food intended for stray cats as he continued his odyssey after midnight on Nov. 16, 2024?

Only Scrim should decide whether he wants a "forever home."

Only Scrim should decide what he wants.

Only Scrim should decide who he likes and wants to hang out with.

My colleague Doug MacCash has taken on the Scrim beat as a part of his already overloaded work plate. Readers -- and other media -- have come to rely on my man Doug for his periodic reports about the let-me-be Mid-City dog.

People, Doug needs a break. He needs to get back to the numerous arts, culture and lifestyle stories he normally covers with fresh eyes, doses of curiousity and a determination to keep readers informed -- and entertained.

Give him a break.

Scrim needs a break, too.

I appreciate our good neighbors who have taken him out of "owners" harms way. I'm pleased that Scrim has found loving foster, temporary and, gulp, wanna-be permanent parent owners. i do. I really do.

Two things.

One, there are lots of dogs, cute and otherwise, small and large, who would love to go to a forever home with you. Let Scrim be. Get your own dog.

Two, it's holiday time. It's a time for fellowship, good food, fun and gifts if you can afford them.

We can afford to give Scrim a great gift: freedom.

Let Scrim choose.

Let's wish him a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and a great next chapter.

None of us want to hear that Scrim was beaten by some cruel person, that he died after being hit by a car. Just for a moment, imagine Scrim running free on a 20-acre ranch with regular rations and non-menacing animal friends. Or maybe Scrim wants to be a, gulp, "stray." That might be a negative word to us. Maybe, just maybe, Scrim hears F-R-E-E-D-O-M.

Email Will Sutton at wsutton@theadvocate.com.

Tags