“Trooper: The Resilient Dog Found Tied to a Fence During Hurricane Milton”

The Florida Highway Patrol rescued a dog named Trooper in Tampa after he was found tied to a fence and left in the rain just hours before Hurricane Milton made landfall. The Leon County Humane Society in Tallahassee is now caring for Trooper, who was less than 100 miles from where the hurricane hit.

A video posted by the Florida Highway Patrol showed Trooper on the side of I-75, partially submerged in water. The dog appeared scared and stressed, growling and barking as a state trooper approached him. Governor Ron DeSantis re-posted the video, promising to hold anyone who mistreats pets accountable.

Trooper was picked up by the Leon County Humane Society after their dog coordinator received a call from the governor’s office. The organization described Trooper as incredibly stressed but mentioned that he has shown signs of improvement, even smiling a few times. They have received numerous inquiries about adopting Trooper, but their main focus is on helping him feel safe and comfortable in his new environment.

Hurricane Milton made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane near Siesta Key, causing flooding in western Florida and multiple tornadoes in a retirement community on the east coast. The storm has resulted in at least 11 deaths in Florida, with over 2 million customers still without power in the state. The Leon County Humane Society stated that Trooper will remain in foster care until they are confident he is ready for adoption and that his future will be kind to him.