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“Find The Perpetrator”: Florida Troopers Rescue Dog Tied To Fence Ahead Of Hurricane Milton
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“Find The Perpetrator”: Florida Troopers Rescue Dog Tied To Fence Ahead Of Hurricane Milton

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Florida Highway Patrol troopers rescued an abandoned dog that had been left tied to a fence ahead of Hurricane Milton’s landfall.

“Do NOT do this to your pets please,” the agency wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Wednesday (October 9). 

The rescue took place near Interstate 75 in Tampa.

In the clip, an officer can be seen approaching the dog stranded in stomach-high water and trying to calm it down.

Highlights
  • Troopers rescued an abandoned dog tied to a fence in Tampa hours before Hurricane Milton's landfall.
  • The pet was rescued by Florida Highway Patrol troopers after a caller reported seeing it near the exit for Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.
  • Florida Gov. DeSantis saidthe state “will hold anyone who mistreats pets accountable.”

When the dog, which appears to be an English bull terrier, begins growling and barking in fear, the trooper responds, “I don’t blame you.”

Image credits: @FLHSMV

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis thanked the Highway Patrol on his X page, writing, “It is cruel for anyone to leave a dog tied to a post in the middle of an oncoming storm.”

De Santis added that the state “will hold anyone who mistreats pets accountable.”

The animal was found after an anonymous caller reported seeing it near the exit for Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

In a follow-up post, the Florida Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) said that the dog is “safe and receiving care.”

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The abandoned pet was found in stomach-high floodwaters on Wednesday

Image credits: @FLHSMV

Florida Highway Patrol troopers shared a video of the rescue on social media, urging pet owners in high-risk areas not to leave their dogs tied up


The abandoned pet was taken to a veterinarian, where it “received a clean bill of health” after being examined for injuries.

The Highway Patrol officer who rescued the dog volunteered to take care of it, the Miami Herald reported.

If you live in a high-risk area, it’s recommended to prepare a pet care kit in advance. This should include any necessary medications, veterinary and vaccine records sealed in a waterproof bag, food, and photos of your pet in case you become separated.

Those who can’t evacuate with their pets should contact their local animal service or emergency department to check whether they are setting up a temporary shelter.

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Pets should never be locked in, tied up, or left in their crate ahead of a hurricane, as this could lead to drowning.

The dog was taken to the veterinarian and is now “safe and receiving care”

Image credits: @FLHSMV

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis thanked the Florida Highway Patrol troopers and said it’s “cruel for anyone to leave a dog tied to a post in the middle of an oncoming storm”

Image credits: CoffindafferFBI


Hurricane Milton made landfall on Florida’s west coast Wednesday night as a Category 3 hurricane, leaving over 3 million people in the state without power.

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At least 36 tornadoes ripped across Florida on Wednesday as the hurricane came ashore. 

Four people were killed by tornadoes in St. Lucie County on Florida’s Atlantic Coast, county officials said.

Tampa recorded 1 foot (30 cm) of rain, while Lakeland, about 35 miles (48 kilometers) inland from Tampa, saw 10 inches (25 cm) of rain.

Hurricane Milton made landfall on Florida’s west coast on Wednesday night as a Category 3 hurricane, leaving over 3 million people without power

Image credits: https://x.com/alireidtv/status/1844075084044271759

Image credits: WFLA News Channel 8

At least 125 homes have been destroyed across the state, according to Kevin Guthrie, the head of the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

By early Thursday (October 10), wind speeds were reduced to a still dangerous 90 mph (150 kph), dropping Milton to a Category 1 hurricane, Reuters reported. Hurricane Milton is now heading out into the Atlantic Ocean.

“There is still danger of life-threatening storm surge along the coast from east-central Florida northward to southern Georgia, where a Storm Surge Warning remains in effect,” the National Hurricane Center (NHC) wrote  in their last update.

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“Damaging hurricane-force winds, especially in gusts, will continue for a few more hours in east-central and northeastern Florida. Residents are urged to remain in an interior room and away from windows.”

People suggested naming the rescued dog “Trooper” or “Milton”

Image credits: MilenaAmit

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Marina Urman

Marina Urman

Writer, BoredPanda staff

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Marina is a journalist at Bored Panda. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, she holds a Bachelor of Social Science. In her spare time, you can find her baking, reading, or watching a docuseries. Her main areas of interest are pop culture, literature, and education.

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Marina Urman

Marina Urman

Writer, BoredPanda staff

Marina is a journalist at Bored Panda. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, she holds a Bachelor of Social Science. In her spare time, you can find her baking, reading, or watching a docuseries. Her main areas of interest are pop culture, literature, and education.

Ugnė Lazauskaitė

Ugnė Lazauskaitė

Author, BoredPanda staff

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I am employed as a Visual Editor in the news team. I make sure you have the best pictures near the most interesting text. In general all day I am looking at all you favourite celebrities facies and I am geting payed for it!

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Ugnė Lazauskaitė

Ugnė Lazauskaitė

Author, BoredPanda staff

I am employed as a Visual Editor in the news team. I make sure you have the best pictures near the most interesting text. In general all day I am looking at all you favourite celebrities facies and I am geting payed for it!

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ConstantlyJon
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

what the actual f**k? WHO does this sort of s**t? absolutely terrifying for that poor doggo. So glad they are safe. We can only hope and pray that the owner who did this died in the storm.

Janissary35680
Community Member
Premium
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It was probably done to keep the dog from following whoever abandoned it. But even then why?

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Upstaged75
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

First intelligent thing DeSantis has ever said in his life!

KWilly
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My pets are my babies. They would be the first thing I would be loading up. The rest of my stuff be damned but I cannot fathom leaving my babies behind. And even worse- leaving them tied to a freaking tree? Disgusting. I would tie my husband to a fence first! (r/sarcasm in case anyone thinks I am serious about the husband thing....)

Traveling Lady Railfan
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have a ""pet evacuation kit" for each animal in the house, food, water, bedding, carrier, harnesses, photos, medical paperwork, collar with ID etc) and if anything were to happen, they would be the first "things" in the house that I would safeguard. I think most pet owners feel the same way. It is disgusting that people with absolutely no regard for life or fear or suffering are allowed to bring more life into the world or are allowed to own animals. It makes me sick to my stomach. Thank you for being yet another wonderful person on team "I love my pets"

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ConstantlyJon
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

what the actual f**k? WHO does this sort of s**t? absolutely terrifying for that poor doggo. So glad they are safe. We can only hope and pray that the owner who did this died in the storm.

Janissary35680
Community Member
Premium
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It was probably done to keep the dog from following whoever abandoned it. But even then why?

Load More Replies...
Upstaged75
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

First intelligent thing DeSantis has ever said in his life!

KWilly
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My pets are my babies. They would be the first thing I would be loading up. The rest of my stuff be damned but I cannot fathom leaving my babies behind. And even worse- leaving them tied to a freaking tree? Disgusting. I would tie my husband to a fence first! (r/sarcasm in case anyone thinks I am serious about the husband thing....)

Traveling Lady Railfan
Community Member
1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have a ""pet evacuation kit" for each animal in the house, food, water, bedding, carrier, harnesses, photos, medical paperwork, collar with ID etc) and if anything were to happen, they would be the first "things" in the house that I would safeguard. I think most pet owners feel the same way. It is disgusting that people with absolutely no regard for life or fear or suffering are allowed to bring more life into the world or are allowed to own animals. It makes me sick to my stomach. Thank you for being yet another wonderful person on team "I love my pets"

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