A disturbing incident has prompted an urgent petition for justice after a dog was found tied to a fence and left to fend for itself in chest-high water just hours before Hurricane Milton was set to make landfall in Florida.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) received a call from a concerned citizen who spotted the terrified dog along the busy Interstate 75. Trooper Orlando Morales responded to the scene and discovered the distressed animal, who was unable to escape due to being tethered to a fence. Video footage released by FHP Tampa captures the dog’s fear as Trooper Morales approached him.
The trooper reported that the dog appeared to be “in severe distress and trembling,” as noted in a criminal report reviewed by CBS News Miami. Following the rescue, the dog was fittingly renamed Trooper and is now safe with a foster family.
The man alleged to have abandoned Trooper while fleeing to Georgia for safety ahead of the hurricane has been arrested and faces a felony charge of aggravated animal cruelty. Thirteenth Circuit State Attorney Suzy Lopez, who is overseeing the case, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that Trooper faced “sure death.” The defendant could face up to five years in prison for his actions.
The petition is calling on State Attorney Lopez to prosecute the case to the fullest extent of the law and to seek the maximum five-year sentence. Additionally, the petition requests that any other animals in the defendant’s care be removed for their safety and that a lifelong ban on owning animals be imposed.
Petitioners aim to be the voices for Trooper and ensure that justice is served.
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