FHPTampa / X
Audio By Carbonatix
An arrest has been made after State Troopers in Florida found an abandoned dog tied to a fence in chest-deep floodwaters on I-75 ahead of Hurricane Milton while millions of Floridians were evacuating the state.
The story received nationwide attention after FHP Tampa shared a video of them finding and rescuing the abandoned dog that was chained up in flood waters on the side of the busiest highway on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Millions of people, myself included, were absolutely outraged that an irresponsible pet owner could abandon their dog like this ahead of Hurricane Milton and leave it for dead.
FHP Tampa’s video was viewed over 12.5 million times on X alone:
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
The dog didn’t have a microchip so locating the owner wasn’t easy but justice has prevailed and an arrest has been made with a 23-year-old from Ruskin, Florida being charge with aggravated animal cruelty which is a felony in Florida. The suspect was arrested and charged before being released on Tuesday with a $2,500 cash bond.
Florida State Attorney Suzy Lopez told media on Tuesday that “we take this crime very seriously and this defendant will face the consequences of his actions.” To truly drive home the severity of the crime, the affidavit read “Due to the circumstances, and the extreme danger and risk of death caused by the defendant to the dog, the defendant’s actions caused excessive unnecessary infliction of pain and suffering to the dog.”
After being rescued by troopers (for which they won an award from PETA), the dog was later named ‘Trooper’ after its story went viral. It was given love and care and taken to a shelter for a health check, all while the public grabbed its pitchforks in search of whoever left their dog tied to a tree in floodwaters on the side of a highway.
Just look at this sweet boy! I believe he’s a Bull Terrier or at least has some Bull Terrier in the mix. Absolutely adorable.
FLHSMV / X
2 days after Hurricane Milton made landfall less than 10 miles from where I’m writing this article and the eye of the category 3 hurricane literally passed over my house, the 23-year-old owner of the dog went to the shelter in an attempt to retrieve the pet by showing photos as proof of ownership. The Leon County Animal Shelter contacted the owner who said that he would surrender ownership if the current foster agreed to take good care of the dog. So ‘Trooper’ is at least living in a great home.
This story stirred up so much outrage in Florida that the governor even weighed in on it. DeSantis remarked “we said at the time, you don’t just tie up a dog and have them out there for a storm, totally unacceptable, and we’re going to hold you accountable. We said you’d be held accountable, and you will be held accountable.”
After being arrested and charged with a felony, it sure seems like he will be held accountable.
I was forced to evacuate for days due to Hurricane Milton and had a pet sitter at my house with my dog. The hurricane shutters were up. They had a generator to keep electricity flowing. Everything was gravy. But the thought of my sweet 100lb puppy in the eye of a hurricane without me there to reassure her was killing me. I cannot fathom ever abandoning a dog on the side of the road in floodwaters.
The public will definitely be interested in what comes of this national news story now that charges have been filed.