Florida dog rescued by police from Hurricane Milton in foster care

He is a soldier.

The dog that went viral after Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) troopers found him tied to a pole in Tampa on the Wednesday before Hurricane Milton is currently in foster care.

The Humane Society of Leon County in Tallahassee revealed Thursday that the black and white puppy they named “Trooper” is now safe in their care.

“His name is Trooper because of what he went through and in honor of those who saved him,” shelter workers wrote on Facebook.

An FHP trooper’s video captured an officer leaving his patrol car Wednesday and approaching a barking dog tied to a fence on Interstate 75, saying to the frightened animal, “It’s OK, buddy. I don’t blame you.”

This was announced by the FHP spokesman Newsweek on Thursday he confirmed that the dog had not suffered any injuries, did not have a microchip and after a check-up he received a health booklet.

“Leaving this dog in this manner was completely unacceptable and not only endangered his life, but could have endangered others by creating a hazard on an already busy and stressful evacuation route,” the Leon County Humane Society continued on Facebook.

“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 when cars drove by, the water reached his stomach and the storm clouds darkened.

Despite dozens of inquiries about a new home for Trooper, the humane society said Trooper is not yet up for adoption.

“He is incredibly stressed and continues to decompress,” they said. “Abandoning a dog in this way usually does not allow for an immediate return to your happy self. Most rescued dogs take a few days to feel safe, a few weeks to come out of their shell, and a few months to become comfortable 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 is kind to him.”

In the meantime, the humane society is asking for donations to help with the daily rescue of dogs like Trooper and other animals in need.

Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida on Wednesday evening as a Category 3 hurricane, after weakening in the Gulf of Mexico before making landfall in Sarasota. While it left a trail of destruction in its wake, the damage was not as catastrophic as expected if it had hit a Category 5.

Before Milton arrived in Florida, the Florida Division of Emergency Management advised residents to prepare an “animal plan” for the storm.

“If you are evacuating your home, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PETS OR PETS,” the agency wrote on its website. “Pets or larger animals are unlikely to survive on their own. If by some miracle this happens, you may not be able to find them when you return. Prepare now and protect your family and pets from the next disaster.”

The agency suggested having a safe place to take pets and preparing a portable pet emergency kit, including leashes and any medications needed.

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