Florida dog rescued by police from Hurricane Milton into foster care

He's a trooper.

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

The Leon County Humane Society in Tallahassee announced Thursday that the black and white puppy it named “Trooper” is now safe in its care.

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

FHP trooper video footage shows the trooper exiting his patrol car Wednesday, approaching the barking dog tied to a fence on Interstate 75 and telling the frightened animal, “You're OK, buddy.” I don’t blame you.”

A spokesman for the FHP said this Newsweek on Thursday that the dog was uninjured and not chipped and had received a clean bill of health during an examination.

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

“We cannot imagine the situation that ended with him tied to that pole, leaving him without any hope. It’s hard to imagine how frightened he must have been as cars raced past, the water rose to his stomach and the storm clouds darkened.”

Despite dozens of requests to find Trooper a new home, the Humane Society said Trooper is not yet available for adoption.

“He is incredibly stressed and still decompressed,” they said. “When you abandon a dog like that, you usually can't be happy again right away. Most rescued dogs need a few days to feel confident, a few weeks to come out of their shell, and a few months to get comfortable and fall into a routine.

“We have absolutely no idea what his life was like before he was abandoned. We want to be sure we know exactly what he needs before we even consider adoption. Therefore, he will remain in care until we are sure that he is ready for the next adoption stage of life, and that his future will be good for him.

In the meantime, the Humane Society is asking for donations to support daily rescue efforts for dogs like Trooper and other animals in need.

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

Before Milton's arrival in Florida, the Florida Division of Emergency Management advised residents to create a “pet plan” for the storm.

“When you vacate your home, do not leave your pets or animals behind,” the agency says on its website. “It is unlikely that pets or larger animals can survive on their own. If they do, you may not be able to find them when you return. Prepare now and protect your family and pets before the next disaster strikes.”

The agency suggested setting up a safe place to house your pets and putting together a portable pet disaster kit with leashes and any needed medications.

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