Scruff was standing alone on a Chicago sidewalk when a video of him reached the person who would eventually take him in.
The young dog’s curly gray coat was dirty and matted, and his movements immediately raised concern. His body trembled. His head bobbed unpredictably, and his legs struggled to keep him balanced as he tried to walk. For a puppy estimated to be only six months to a year old, even crossing the sidewalk looked unusually difficult.
A friend had sent the footage after finding him on the street. There was no owner waiting nearby and, when Scruff was later checked, no microchip offered an easy path back to a family.
His rescuer had never owned a dog before. Even so, leaving a vulnerable puppy outside—especially one who could not move normally—was not an option.
Scruff was taken to an animal hospital.
@scruffthestray Scruff is a stray puppy I rescued this past Monday. Honestly I have no idea what I’m doing and this is the craziest thing I’ve ever done (and I’ve done some crazy things lol). I’ve never owned a dog. I’m a cat lady gone rogue. Here’s the link to his GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/6ca8bad42 Unfortunately I can’t post the link to his GoFundMe in my bio until we hit 1,000 followers. Until then, I’ll be posting daily updates on this sweet little boy ❤️🫶 Please follow to help support his healing journey! #straydog #chicago #abandoneddog #gofundme #stray
The Vet Visit Brought More Questions Than Answers
At the clinic, veterinarians observed the trembling, poor balance, and unusual body movements. A neurological problem was suspected, but determining exactly what was causing his symptoms would require further testing.
That presented an immediate obstacle.
The advanced testing required a deposit of about $6,000. Without moving forward, euthanasia was presented as the alternative.
Scruff’s rescuer chose to take him home instead.
He left the clinic with medications, including antibiotics and steroids, while his condition remained uncertain. There was no confirmed diagnosis explaining whether his symptoms were connected to an injury, infection, illness, trauma, or another neurological issue.
For the moment, the priority was simpler: keep him safe, give him his medication, and watch him closely.
Scruff had apparently been outside during a thunderstorm, and his coat was muddy and tangled. A friend brought supplies and helped give him a gentle bath.
At first, he was nervous. After everything that had happened—the street, the veterinary examination, unfamiliar people, and a completely new environment—even warm water was another unfamiliar experience.
Gradually, he settled.
The mud came away, but his physical difficulties remained. His head still moved uncontrollably when he tried to eat or drink, and twitching could be seen both while he was awake and while he slept.
Still, Scruff showed that his condition had not erased his desire to be a puppy.
His First Safe Night Revealed Another Side of Him
Scruff wanted to run.
He could manage short bursts of movement before suddenly freezing, as though his body had stopped responding to what he wanted it to do. At times, he lost his balance or collapsed. Yet when he could move, he tried again.
Because his vaccination history was unknown, Scruff had to remain separated from the cats in his rescuer’s home. A bathroom became his temporary space, furnished with food, water, blankets, and a soft toy.
It was a modest setup, but for Scruff it provided something the Chicago street could not: protection.
That night, he was clean and warm. He had medicine nearby and someone checking on him. There was no rain falling on his coat and no traffic passing beside him while he struggled to stay upright.
His rescuer watched his movements carefully, knowing that the medical questions had not disappeared simply because he was indoors.
But something fundamental had changed.
Scruff was no longer facing those questions alone.
His story was still in its earliest stage. He might need further testing, treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term medical care. The cause of his neurological symptoms had not yet been established, and there was no confirmed permanent adoption or final outcome.
What had been established was that someone was willing to give him time.
Only hours earlier, Scruff had been an unidentified puppy wobbling across a city sidewalk without a microchip or known home. By the end of his first day in care, he had a name, medication, a clean coat, a quiet room, and a person watching over him.
None of those things solved the mystery of his condition.
They did something just as necessary first: they gave him the chance to reach tomorrow.
