Aid Scrimshaw's Medical and Healing Costs

On Friday, October 25th, 2024, at around 7 PM, my greyhound and best friend Scrimshaw was attacked by a rottweiler while walking through Jefferson Square Park in Philadelphia. It was a horrible moment, leaving my normally bubbly and happy Scrimshaw with anxiety and homebound as he recovers.

Unfortunately and regretfully, we did not get the owner's information. Scrimshaw and I were both too scared to remain in the area, and in the moment and in the darkness with just a phone flashlight, Scrimshaw appeared fine. The next day in the daylight and after a thorough inspection it was discovered that Scrimshaw had received puncture wounds to his back and side.

Currently, I've put up flyers all around the area looking for the owner, posting the flyers around the park and canvassing the residents situated directly around Jefferson Square. Once the owner is located, I'll be asking them to take responsibility for the vet bills.

In the meantime, Scrimshaw's surgery was successful. With the bite, his punctures were actually connected together and draining, causing a large pocket of fluid. The vet created another incision within the fluid pocket to drain the wound, which will be a bit messy for the next week or so as it heals and is monitored. He'll be on a course of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and pain medication and will have to deal with a cone which he still hasn't quite figured out yet.

Scrimshaw's surgery totaled $1579.42. I've added additional buffer room to account for medication, laundering all the fluids, comfort items and food for Scrimshaw, his follow-up visit, and for his upcoming annual vet visit where we hope to do a full workup, including dental cleaning with sedation.

For transparency, if this GoFundMe reaches its goal, anything beyond the original ask will be split between a new coat / a toy for Scrimshaw, mutual aid, and local animal rescue services within Philadelphia. Currently, the only service I have in mind is Stray Cat Relief Fund, where his cat brother Michelangelo was adopted from. If the aggressive dog owner is located and agrees to pay for Scrimshaw's medical bills and the GoFundMe has reached its goal, their payment will be donated as well.