A dog that captured national attention after being abandoned and tied to a fence as Hurricane Milton barreled toward Florida has undergone emergency surgery, marking yet another chapter in his remarkable survival story.
Trooper, a resilient bull terrier, now enjoys a life of comfort with his owner, Frank Spina. Relaxing on a cozy couch, he seems worlds away from the harrowing ordeal that once defined him.
“He’s great. He’s the best,” Spina said, reflecting on Trooper’s transformation.
Left to Face the Storm
Trooper was discovered in October, tethered to a fence along Interstate 75 in Tampa, trapped in rising floodwaters as the hurricane approached.
His suffering was evident—his skin stained from prolonged exposure to mud and water, his nails bleeding from the ordeal.
Despite his rough start, Trooper found a loving home with Spina and his wife, Carla, in Parkland, where he also gained a canine sibling, Dallas. But his journey to recovery was far from over.
A Shocking Discovery
Not long after settling in, Spina noticed two small bumps on Trooper’s left flank. Tests confirmed they were cancerous, but they were successfully removed. However, during the procedure, veterinarians made a disturbing discovery.
“He said, ‘You have to come and look at this X-ray. I’ve never seen anything like this,’” Spina recalled.
An emergency surgery led by Dr. Randy Dominguez and Trooper’s primary veterinarian, Dr. Javier Gonzalez, revealed a stomach filled with non-digestible materials—rubber, plastic, and metal.
“[The surgeon] spent four and a half hours removing it piece by piece,” Spina said.
Holding up a clear bag, Spina displayed the shocking contents extracted from Trooper’s stomach—2.1 pounds of debris.
A Second Chance at Life
Veterinarians believe Trooper resorted to consuming inedible objects out of sheer starvation.
“I’m just fed up now,” Spina said. “It’s one thing to tie him on the side of the road—that’s already horrendous. But knowing what he’s been through, it’s just heartbreaking.”
Now free from cancer and the harmful objects that once filled his stomach, Trooper is thriving in his new home.
“He needed to be somewhere where he knew people loved him, where he felt safe,” Spina said. “That place is right here.”
Fighting for Change
Trooper’s former owner faces a charge of aggravated animal abuse and is set to appear in court in March.
Meanwhile, the Spinas plan to travel to Tallahassee that same month to support legislation inspired by Trooper’s case. The proposed bill would criminalize leaving a restrained dog behind during a natural disaster, ensuring that no other animal endures the fate Trooper narrowly escaped.
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