Dog left tied to pole on I-75 during evacuation in Milton, now in foster care – NBC 6 South Florida

On By Yukito

A four-legged Florida resident rescued hours before Hurricane Milton was expected to hit Tallahassee is now safe and dry, according to the Leon County Humane Society.

He was also given a name in honor of both his survival and those who saved him: Trooper.

A Florida Highway Patrol officer found what appears to be a white bull terrier dog tied to a fence off Interstate 75 in the Tampa area on Wednesday during mandatory evacuations as the region braced for potential devastation from Hurricane Milton.

“We cannot imagine a situation that ended with him being tied to a pole and left without hope. “It’s hard to imagine how scared he must have been as cars drove by, the water came up to his stomach and the storm clouds darkened,” the Humane Society said in a Facebook post.

Bodycam footage shows the soldier approaching the dog in the rain, with his legs submerged in the water. The dog growled and barked as the soldier approached.

“It’s okay, buddy,” the soldier said, trying to calm him down. I don’t blame you. I don’t blame you. It’s okay, buddy. All right.

The puppy was later picked up by the Humane Society’s canine coordinator, who received a call from the governor’s office and left the house to pick it up from Emergency Management Services.

“The dog was brought to the Hillsborough Pet Resource Center but was not microchipped and has not been reunited (with any potential owner),” the Humane Society added. “We didn’t talk to the shelter, but the transportation system that got him to a safe place contacted us and took him to Tallahassee. He has been in foster care since then.”

Trooper will likely remain in foster care for some time before the Humane Society considers adoption.

“He is incredibly stressed and still in a state of decompression. Abandoning such a dog usually does not allow you to immediately return to your happy self. Most rescued dogs take a few days to feel safe, or a few weeks to come out of their shell, and a few months to get used to the situation and settle into a routine. We have no idea what his life was like before he was abandoned. “We want to make sure we know exactly what he needs before we even consider adoption, so he will remain in foster care until we are sure he is ready for the next stage of his life and that the future will be kind to him,” the organization said.