A 23-year-old man from Ruskin, Florida, has been arrested and charged with felony aggravated animal cruelty after authorities say he left his dog behind in floodwaters while people were evacuating the Gulf Coast before Hurricane Milton hit.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the dog, nicknamed Trooper, was found last Wednesday in chest-deep floodwaters near Interstate 75, close to Tampa, just hours before Hurricane Milton, a Category 3 storm, made landfall. Troopers rescued Trooper, who was visibly distressed, and took him to a vet. Thankfully, Trooper was unharmed and received a clean bill of health.
“We take this crime very seriously, and the defendant will face the consequences of his actions,” said State Attorney Suzy Lopez, whose office covers the Tampa area.
