Ben Madilynn
He’s a Trooper.
The dog who went viral after Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) troopers found him tied to a pole in Tampa on Wednesday ahead of Hurricane Milton is now in foster care.
The Leon County Humane Society in Tallahassee revealed Thursday that the black and white pup they named “Trooper” is now safe in their care.
“His name is Trooper because of how much he’s been through and to honor those who saved him,” shelter staff wrote on Facebook.
FHP/Facebook
FHP trooper video footage captured the trooper Wednesday leaving his patrol car and approaching the barking dog who was tied to a fence on Interstate 75, telling the frightened animal, “It’s OK, buddy. I don’t blame you.”
A spokesperson for the FHP told Newsweek on Thursday that the dog was uninjured, not microchipped, and received a clean bill of health upon a check-up.
“Leaving this dog in this way was completely unacceptable and endangered not only his life but could have endangered others by causing a hazard on an already busy and stressful evacuation route,” the Leon County Humane Society continued on Facebook.
“We can’t imagine the situation that ended with him tied to this pole and left him without any hope. 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.”
X/@FHPTampa
Despite dozens of inquiries about giving Trooper a new home, the humane society said Trooper is not yet up for adoption.
“He’s incredibly stressed and still decompressing,” they said. “Abandoning a dog like this doesn’t typically allow for an immediate bounce back to their happy selves. Most dogs when rescued take a few days to feel safe, a few weeks to come out of their shell, and a few months to become comfortable and fall into a routine.
“We have absolutely no idea what his life looked like before he was abandoned. 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.”
In the meantime, the humane society is asking for donations to assist in daily rescue efforts for dogs like Trooper and any animals in need.
Hurricane Milton hit Florida on Wednesday night as a Category 3 hurricane after weakening in the Gulf of Mexico before making landfall in Sarasota. While it left a trail of destruction behind, the damage wasn’t as catastrophic as expected had it hit as a Category 5.
Ahead of Milton’s arrival in Florida, the Florida Division of Emergency Management advised residents to have a “pet plan” for the storm.
“If you evacuate your home, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PETS OR ANIMALS BEHIND,” the agency’s website said. “It is unlikely for pets or larger animals to survive on their own. If by some chance they do, you may not be able to find them when you return. Prepare now and protect your family and pets before the next disaster strikes.”
The agency suggested having a safe place to take your pets and assembling a portable pet disaster kit including leashes and any medication needed.
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