Hurricane Milton slammed into Florida’s Gulf Coast leaving destruction in its wake.
Law enforcement found themselves facing one unspeakable situation.
And the Florida Highway Patrol made one scary rescue that had Ron DeSantis raising hell.
Dog rescued left in the path of the hurricane
Hurricane Milton caused millions to evacuate Florida when it appeared it could be the storm of the century when it was in the Gulf of Mexico.
Florida Highway Patrol found one member of a family left for dead with the hurricane barreling toward the state.
A dog was chained to a fence in a pool of water off I-75 in the Tampa area hours before Hurricane Milton came ashore.
The pooch was about 100 miles from Siesta Key, Florida where the hurricane made landfall.
“It’s OK, it’s OK,” a state trooper told the dog.
The terrified dog barked at him.
“I don’t blame you,” the state trooper said.
There was no telling how long he was tied up for or what happened to his owner.
FHP Troopers rescued a dog left tied to a pole on I-75 near Bruce B Downs Blvd this morning. Do NOT do this to your pets please… pic.twitter.com/8cZJOfkJL2
— FHP Tampa (@FHPTampa) October 9, 2024
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis had a warning for anyone leaving their pet tied up during a storm.
“It is cruel for anyone to leave a dog tied to a post in the middle of an oncoming storm,” DeSantis wrote on X. “FL will hold anyone who mistreats pets accountable.”
The Florida Division of Emergency Management told residents to come up with a plan for their pets before a storm.
“If you evacuate your home, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PETS OR ANIMALS BEHIND. It is unlikely for pets or larger animals to survive of their own,” the Emergency Management website stated. “If by some chance they do, you may not be able to find them when you return.”
Dog abandoned in hurricane gets a new lease on life
The dog, a bull terrier, was taken to the Leon County Humane Society in Tallahassee.
“His name is Trooper, because of how much he’s been through and to honor those who saved him,” the Humane Society said.
They said that the dog was traumatized by the experience but was starting to show signs of getting back to his old self.
“We can’t imagine the situation that ended with him tied to this pole and left him without any hope,” the Humane Society stated. “It’s hard even to think about how scared he must have been as cars raced by, the water rose to his belly, and the storm clouds darkened.”
Look 👀 who 🐶 His name is now TROOPER 💕💕💕
This sweet boy was chained to a fence in Tallahassee in the hurricane, knee deep in water. We all saw his rescue video. He is safe now & cared for by the Leon County Humane Society in town there.
He was not returned to his owner as… pic.twitter.com/zsph096wVk
— ♥️🇺🇸 𝓒𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓪 🇮🇹♥️ (@CB618444) October 11, 2024
The video of Trooper’s rescue got millions of views on social media which led to dozens of inquiries about adopting him.
Humane Society staff said that the dog would need time in foster care before he was ready to be put up for adoption.
“We have absolutely no idea what his life looked like before he was abandoned,” the Humane Society said. “We want to be sure that we know exactly what he needs before even considering adoption, so he’ll be in foster care until we feel confident he’s ready for the next phase of life, and that his future will be kind to him.”
Trooper got a new lease on life thanks to the patience and care of the Florida Highway Patrol.
DeSantis Daily will keep you up-to-date on any new developments in this story.
