One phone video was all it took to send Scruff’s life in a completely different direction. That’s how people first met Scruff on @lauraaa_nic’s account — a wobbly little dog picked up after a rough night outdoors in Chicago. One look at him and the concern was pretty immediate.
He struggled to stay balanced, his head moved uncontrollably, and even simple things seemed difficult. That’s when Laura and her friend decided they weren’t leaving him to figure things out by himself. It didn’t take long for people online to become invested in a puppy they’d never even met.
Human rescues injured puppy and the internet comes together to fund treatment
Things started after a friend sent Laura footage of a puppy struggling to stay upright in the street. They got him to a veterinary hospital as quickly as possible, where doctors began looking into what might be causing the problem.
The options weren’t easy. Testing for neurological issues required a large upfront deposit, and euthanasia was also presented as a possibility. However, neither Laura nor her friend felt ready to give up on him.
So Scruff headed home instead, and one of the first things on the agenda was washing off a night spent outside in the rain. At first, he looked nervous, but bit by bit, he looked more comfortable with the whole situation. Later, while drying off, he tried tackling treats despite struggling to keep his head steady. He wasn’t exactly graceful, but he didn’t seem to care.
Even drinking water took effort, but Scruff kept at it anyway. We even see him sprinting enthusiastically during walks, and then suddenly freezing in place when his body wouldn’t cooperate. What never seemed to change was how badly he wanted to be close to people.
At one point, Scruff is resting quietly against Laura’s arm. At another, he is sleeping peacefully beneath a soft light in the bathroom while calming music plays nearby.
People started paying attention almost right away. More than 72,000 people liked the video, and supporters eventually helped raise over $15,000 through a fundraiser created for his care. There’s still a long road ahead for Scruff. But what started with one concerned friend has now turned into a whole community pulling for the same little dog.
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