‘It’s OK, buddy’: Dog rescued from Florida floods during Hurricane Milton – Times of India

A dog found tied to a fence on a Florida highway during the evacuations before Hurricane Milton now recovering at a rescue facility in Tallahassee Leon County Humane Society has confirmed.
The dog was spotted by a Florida Highway Patrol soldier on Wednesday together Interstate 75 near Tampa, standing in rising water that had already reached his belly. Video footage showed the distressed dog barking as the officer approached. “I don’t blame you,” said the officer. “It’s okay, buddy, it’s okay,” Fox59 News quoted him as saying.
After rescuing the animal, the Florida Highway Patrol issued an appeal to residents urging them not to leave pets behind during evacuations. “DO NOT do this to your pets, please,” the agency wrote in a post.
The incident attracted national attention. A Leon County Humane Society representative later confirmed the dog was safe in their care. “We know that without the help of Florida Highway Patrol officers, this dog would not have made it,” the Humane Society said in a statement posted on Facebook page. “We’re thankful the troopers realized he was scared and abandoned dog and treated him so patiently and kindly during the rescue.’
The dog has since been named “Troper” in honor of those who rescued him. Although Trooper is safe, the Humane Society said he remains stressed and “still decompressing.” Full recovery may take months.
The organization strongly condemned the act of abandoning animals during emergencies. “It was cruel and thoughtless, not only to him, but to the people trying to deal with the oncoming storm,” the Facebook post read.
The Humane Society has received numerous adoption inquiries, but will not accept applications until Trooper is fully rehabilitated. “We want to make sure we know exactly what he needs before we even consider adoption,” they wrote, confirming that the dog will remain in foster care until fully ready for a new home.