A video of a dog left stranded and tied to a pole along a fence on I-75 as the daunting Category 4 Hurricane Milton approached Tampa Bay is circulating widely online.
The footage, posted Wednesday on the Florida Highway Patrol-Tampa X account, has drawn attention and concern across the platform.
In the 36-second video, you can see the dog’s head peek out along the side of the road, water reaching up to its belly, soaking its stubby legs as it continues bark and growl while a trooper approaches.
“It’s OK, buddy,” the trooper reassured the dog as he made his way to him. “Do NOT do this to your pets please,” the video was captioned.
Gov. Ron DeSantis reposted the video, saying “it is cruel for anyone to leave a dog tied to a post in the middle of an oncoming storm. FL will hold anyone who mistreats pets accountable.”
Fleeing from Hurricane Milton with pets? Here’s what to do
According to the Red Cross, ahead of hurricane season, you should:
- Make sure pets have collars, and their tags and vaccinations are up to date.
- Microchip your pets to keep track of them in the event of an emergency.
- Make an emergency kit with sturdy leashes and harnesses, food and water bowls, medications and copies of medical records, current photos of pet in case they are lost, numbers for personal veterinarian and other caregivers.
- Make note that in evacuations many shelters or hotels do not accept pets for safety reasons. It is important to plan ahead as much as possible and know areas or facilities willing to accommodate your extra guests.
For more information on how to keep your furry friends safe in storms, go to redcross.org/get-help.
Kyla A Sanford can be reached at ksanford@tallahassee.com.
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