PARKLAND, Fla. (WSVN) – A bull terrier named Trooper who was left behind in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton has found his forever family.
Hours before Hurricane Milton made landfall, Florida Highway Patrol troopers found a dog tied to a fence near Interstate 75 in Tampa.
“He was still alive when we received him,” Frank Spina said. “The previous owner was abusing him.”
“I burst into tears and the first thing I said was, ‘Oh my God, I have to save this dog,'” Carla Spina said. “It’s just, who could do that?”
The officer was found standing in the middle of a puddle of water up to his chest, clearly in distress.
After the successful rescue, FHP personnel named the pup “Trooper” and took him to a shelter, where he began a smooth journey to his new home.
He started at a shelter in Hillsborough County, and FHP transferred him to the Leon County Humane Society after the storm.
“At first he was at the Hillsborough County shelter,” Carla said. “Then because of the storm, they transferred him to the Leon County Humane Society. The poor guy then went to a great foster home.”
The puppy spent four weeks at a foster home until Frank and Carla Spina were contacted by the Leon County Humane Society.
“They told me stories about him being abused by men. I said, ‘I’ve been doing this for 33 years.’ I just need five minutes,” Frank said. “Within 60 seconds he was under my feet and I was scratching him and he was smiling.”
Determined to give the abandoned pup a new home, they drove seven and a half hours from Parkland to Tallahassee with another rescued bull terrier in tow.
“He’s daddy’s son,” Frank said. “I think we’ve turned him around. We’re very fortunate. We’re very happy to have him.”
Trooper now has new parents and a new sister named Dallas. He has spent the last four weeks with his new family and is getting used to his new life.
“She had stars in her eyes, like the first time she met Prince Charming,” Frank said.
Frank and Carla hope others will help give dogs a new chance at life through adoption.
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