news

Dog rescued from Hurricane Milton on I-75, now safe in Tallahassee

Vaseline October 11, 2024

From Tampa to Tallahassee, the dog tied to a fence along Interstate 75 as Hurricane Milton approached Florida is a true “Trooper.”

The dog, which appears to be a Bull Terrier, is now in the care of the Leon County Humane Society after being rescued by a state trooper who spotted the abandoned pooch.

After creating a stir online, the dog – now called ‘Trooper’ – was pictured in his cozy blanket and soft bed in a post on the local association’s Facebook page on Thursday. The post explained his new name “for how much he has been through and to honor those who saved him.”

“We wanted to let those who have been following this story know that he is safe as we have been concerned about him since seeing his story,” the post said. “We also want those following to know that we take animal abandonment seriously and will be closely monitoring his case and using his experience to educate.”

Trooper was picked up Wednesday evening after the shelter was contacted by the governor’s office, the post explained.

Hundreds of thousands fled to escape Milton, causing a series of devastating tornadoes around the state. It appears Trooper was not included in his previous owner’s evacuation plans, causing heartbreak on social media.

A 36-second video posted to social media by the Florida Highway Patrol-Tampa showed the dog stranded and tied to a fence, up to his stomach in water on the side of I-75 when the storm hit Tampa Bay area was approaching.

Governor Ron DeSantis reposted the video, saying it was “cruel to everyone to leave a dog tied to a pole in the middle of an approaching storm. FL will hold anyone who abuses pets accountable.”

At a Wednesday night news conference about the storm, the governor added, “What kind of animal would just leave a dog chained to a post in the middle of a hurricane? I mean, it’s just incredible.’

Trooper’s story sparked new attention to animal abuse and neglect, and the Leon County Humane Society was able to raise $1,603 for dogs with similar stories and help with daily rescue efforts, the report says.

The shelter says it will keep Trooper’s fans updated on his recovery.

The dog is still “stressed and still decompressing” from the events of the past 24 hours. His next steps include finding a new home when he’s ready for the “next phase of life.”