One evening in Brooklyn, New York, as Hunter Tonn and her fiancé were walking home after dinner, they were startled by faint yelping noises coming from a nearby trash bag. Concerned, the couple hurried toward the sound.
Tonn picked up the bag, visibly disturbed. Upon opening it, they discovered another bag tucked inside—and movement coming from within. Expecting an animal to emerge, they waited, but when nothing happened, they carefully cut it open to see what was inside.
A Desperate Plea For Help
What they uncovered was heartbreaking: a senior dog, badly injured, had been cruelly discarded and left to suffer. Covered in urine and in dire need of a bath, the helpless pup was clinging to life.
Determined to help, the couple brought him home and tried to clean him up.
But soon after, the pup—later named Scrappy—began having seizures. Fearing for his life, Tonn’s fiancé sprinted home to fetch towels, and the couple wrapped Scrappy up and raced him to the emergency vet.
The veterinarian quickly assessed the situation. Scrappy had a head injury and appeared to be dealing with serious neurological problems.
As Scrappy was a stray, the couple faced a tough choice: either assume ownership and take responsibility for his expensive care, or sign over his rights to the vet clinic so they could proceed with treatment.
Although they initially wanted to care for him themselves, the cost—estimated between $20,000 and $50,000—was beyond their reach. Ultimately, they agreed to surrender him so he could get the help he needed.
Searching For Justice
Tonn posted a video of the rescue on TikTok, hoping to identify Scrappy’s previous owner and report the cruelty. The video quickly went viral.
While many praised Tonn for stepping in to save Scrappy’s life, others criticized her decision to relinquish him, fearing he might be euthanized due to the severity of his condition. Tonn, however, remained firm in her belief that she had made the best possible choice under the circumstances.
She and her fiancé haven’t stopped thinking about Scrappy. Though they don’t receive official updates, they remain hopeful. They believe he may be transferred to Animal Care Centers of NYC or ASPCA once stable.
In the meantime, they continue to check shelter websites, hoping for a chance to welcome Scrappy into their home as fosters.
Let’s hope that Scrappy recovers fully and gets the loving home he deserves. Immense thanks go to Hunter Tonn and her fiancé for their compassion and swift action.