It never ceases to shock us how cruel some people can be towards animals. Heartless people abandon their pets in the worst places, leaving them for dead.

That was the heartbreaking case this morning, as a dog was found tied up to a fence in Florida, right in the path of the oncoming hurricane.

On the morning of October 9, Florida Highway Patrol troopers in Tampa rescued a dog who was found tied to a pole on I-75 near Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

It was a heartbreaking sight: the dog was tied up by his collar, left standing with his legs submerged in water.

As the troopers approached, the dog growled at them, understandably frightened. “I don’t blame you,” one of the troopers reassures the dog. “It’s okay, buddy.”

“Do NOT do this to your pets please,” the department wrote on X.

Tying a dog up like this would be cruel in any circumstances, but it’s made even worse by the fact that Tampa is in the path of Hurricane Milton, which is expected to bring “catastrophic and life-threatening” rainfall to the region.

While many in the area are busy evacuating themselves and their pets to safety, some cruel person apparently decided to leave this dog for dead.

FHP Troopers rescued a dog left tied to a pole on I-75 near Bruce B Downs Blvd this morning. Do NOT do this to your pets please… pic.twitter.com/8cZJOfkJL2

— FHP Tampa (@FHPTampa) October 9, 2024

Many people reacted to the story, thanking the troopers for rescuing the dog and hoping that the person responsible is found and faces justice.

“I hope that dog is chipped, and they find the owner and charge them with Animal abuse,” one local replied to the story on X. “[That is] horrible we are literally getting hit by a hurricane in hours.”

The story spread, even getting the attention of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who thanked the troopers and vowed repercussions. “It is cruel for anyone to leave a dog tied to a post in the middle of an oncoming storm,” DeSantis wrote. “[Florida] will hold anyone who mistreats pets accountable.”

Thankfully there has been a bit of good news: in an update, the Florida Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles announced that the dog was “safe and receiving care.” He was examined for injuries and reportedly received a clear bill of health.

Update: The dog rescued by @FHPTampa is safe and receiving care. Troopers brought him to a vet, where he was examined for injuries and received a clean bill of health. pic.twitter.com/cut1jv7cBe

— FLHSMV (@FLHSMV) October 9, 2024

There is currently no other information about the dog, or who abandoned him like this. It’s possible it was his previous owner who tied him up, but it’s also possible he was a stray who someone found.

It’s unbelievable that anyone would leave a dog for dead like this, but we’re glad that this sweet dog was rescued in time. Thank you to the troopers for helping this dog ahead of Hurricane Milton.

Please share this story.