On Oct. 9, troopers found an abandoned dog along Interstate 75 amid Hurricane Milton evacuation operations. The pup was tied to a fence and already chest-deep in water, with his head barely peeking over the vegetation. Furthermore, the hurricane was just a few hours away from making landfall, and the canine wouldn’t have survived if the officials hadn’t found and rescued him promptly.
Public demands justice for dog abandoned in Hurricane Milton
On Wednesday morning, Florida Highway Patrol officers spotted a pup off the highway. The troopers stated that his location was near Bruce B Downs Blvd in Tampa, Florida. When the dog was discovered, Hurricane Milton was merely a few hours away from making landfall. In the post, officials emphasized, “Do NOT do this to your pets please…”
The short clip began with the official getting out of his car. Then, the camera panned towards the white dog with black markings. The canine was in alert mode as the trooper approached him, going back a few steps as they got closer, as much as his leash would allow him.
The dog had been tied to a wire fence and abandoned as Hurricane Milton approached. Moreover, the floodwater had already reached his stomach and chest. As the pup was agitated by the approaching official, they kept reassuring him as they got closer. Fortunately, according to the post on X (formerly Twitter), he was safely rescued.
According to the Tallahassee Democrat, the dog is currently at Leon County Humane Society and has been named Trooper. The pup has been cleared by the medical professionals and is being cared for by them.
Netizens were horrified upon seeing the pup’s ordeal, with many demanding the owner be found and charged with animal abuse. Moreover, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis reposted the video as well. He said, “It is cruel for anyone to leave a dog tied to a post in the middle of an oncoming storm. FL will hold anyone who mistreats pets accountable.” DeSantis also brought up the incident in a press conference on Wednesday, expressing his disbelief at the situation as he noted, “What kind of an animal would just leave a dog chained to a pole in the middle of a hurricane?”
