TAMPA, Fla. – A proposed bill dubbed ‘Troopers Law’ would prohibit abandoning a dog that is restrained during a natural disaster.
It is affectionately named for a bull terrier discovered tied to a fence off Interstate 75 in rising water ahead of Hurricane Milton.
What happened to Trooper the dog?
The backstory:
As Hurricane Milton headed toward Florida, a trooper with the Florida Highway Patrol got a tip from a driver about an animal on the side of the road, and searched relentlessly until he found the dog tied up in belly-deep water.
Bodycam video shows the dog barking as troopers approached and rescued it.
Dog tied to pole rescued in Tampa
Troopers rescued a dog they found tied to a pole on I-75 in Tampa as Hurricane Milton approached the area.
The trooper took the dog to a vet, where he was examined, given a clean bill of health and taken to a Hillsborough County animal shelter.
News of the dog’s rescue quickly went viral, and it wasn’t long before rumors began to swirl about the pooch.
Squashing rumors
Dig deeper:
As Hurricane Milton barreled across the Bay Area, social media lit up with posts stating that the dog found by troopers was given back to its owner.
However, that wasn’t the case, and the Leon County Humane Society quickly took to social media to set the record straight.
The animal shelter said it was contacted by the governor’s office on Wednesday and picked him up from the Department of Emergency Services because of the damage Hurricane Milton was expected to cause in the Bay Area.
‘Trooper’ decompressed at the Leon County Humane Society after being found tied to a pole ahead of Hurricane Milton. Image is courtesy of the Leon County Humane Society.
According to LCHS, the dog, who was named ‘Trooper’ after his rescuer, did go to the Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center, but he was not chipped. Since ‘Trooper’ was released to the same person who brought him in, he was mistakenly listed as returned to his owner, and later updated as transferred to law enforcement.
The animal shelter confirmed that the original owner did not come forward.
Who would do that to a dog?
What we know:
‘Trooper’s’ original owner, Giovanny Aldama Garcia, was charged with aggravated animal cruelty, which is a third-degree felony.
Giovanny Aldama Garcia mugshot. Courtesy of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
Hillsborough State Attorney Suzy Lopez said at the time of Garcia’s arrest that he told investigators that he was driving to Georgia to escape Hurricane Milton, but left his dog ‘Jumbo’ on the side of the road because he couldn’t find anyone to pick up the dog.
What is ‘Trooper’s Law’?
What we know:
‘Trooper’s Law’ is House Bill 205 which was introduced by State Representative Griff Griffitts, who represents Bay County.
The proposed bill would make it a third-degree felony to abandon a dog that is restrained during a natural disaster, punishable by jail time, a $10,000 fine or both.
Timeline:
If the ‘Trooper’s Law’ is passed, it will take effect on Oct. 1, 2025.
Click here to read the bill.
Where did Trooper the dog end up?
What we know:
After decompressing for several weeks, ‘Trooper’ was adopted by a family in Parkland, which is in South Florida, that has another bull terrier named Dallas.
Trooper was adopted by a South Florida family who has another bull terrier and says he is doing well in his new home. Image is courtesy of the Leon County Humane Society.
His new family says Trooper loves taking walks around the neighborhood with his new sister and watching football on the couch. They believe he’s about three years old, and that he is healthy and loving his new home.
The Source: This story was written with information from the Florida Senate and previous FOX 13 News reports.
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