Just a note to let his followers know that he is doing terrific. He recently went on his first vacation, to Universal Orlando, and had a great time! He slept for 2 days when he got home.😀
He sends his best Bully wishes to all his friends and followers!

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1887179302056759&set=gm.1600080827350717&idorvanity=416673219024823

Florida Trooper Rescues Bull Terrier “Trooper” Abandoned in Hurricane Milton Floodwaters

— During Hurricane Milton’s approach in October 2024, Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Orlando Morales rescued a 5-year-old bull terrier who had been tied to a fence in rising floodwaters near Tampa. The dog, later renamed Trooper in honor of his rescuer, survived and is now living in a safe home

Abandonment During Hurricane Milton

Hurricane Milton, a powerful Category 3 storm, made landfall along Florida’s Gulf Coast on Oct. 9, 2024. The hurricane brought heavy rain, damaging winds and life-threatening storm surge, killing at least 24 people in Florid. In the frantic evacuation, Trooper’s original owner, Giovanny Aldama Garcia, left his bull terrier behind on Interstate 75 near Tampa as floodwaters rose. The dog was found tied to a fence with water up to his chest as Milton bore down on the region.

Rescue and Transfer

Trooper Morales received a tip and searched until he found the distressed dog in belly-high water on the highway. He calmly approached the barking bull terrier — bodycam video later showed Morales reassuring the dog — and escorted him to safety just before the storm hit. The dog, who had been called “Jumbo” by his owner, was taken to a veterinarian, given a clean bill of health, and renamed Trooper after his rescuer. He was then housed at the Hillsborough County pet resource center and transferred to the Leon County Humane Society in Tallahassee for foster care.

Adoption and Recovery

Hundreds of people applied to adopt Trooper after the story went viral. In December 2024 he was adopted by Frank and Carla Spina of Parkland, Florida, experienced bull-terrier owners, along with their rescue dog Dallas. “He’s now been with us […] a month. He’s doing great,” Frank Spina said, describing Trooper’s progress in his new home. Carla Spina said Trooper was “funny, [and] lovable” and loves to be scratched and hugged.

Shortly after adoption, the Spinas discovered two dime-sized lumps on Trooper’s side. A veterinarian diagnosed them as mast cell tumors, a form of cancer. Trooper underwent surgery to remove the tumors, and tests later confirmed he was cancer-free — news that brought the family to tears.

Additional health issues soon emerged: veterinarians found something in Trooper’s stomach during pre-surgery exams. Trooper fell ill and had emergency surgery in Miami, where doctors removed a 2.1-pound freezer bag and more than 100 pieces of debris from his digestive tract. Dr. Gonzales, one of the attending veterinarians, called it a “once in a lifetime” case. The trash was likely ingested while the dog was chained outdoors before being rescued. Despite this harrowing ordeal, Trooper recovered fully.

His adoptive parents say Trooper is now playful and energetic, settling into home life. They have been training him to sleep indoors – a luxury he likely lacked when living chained outside. “It’s night and day because he was probably sleeping on concrete outside,” Frank Spina said.

Public Response and Legislation

Trooper’s story drew national attention and prompted public outrage. At a 2024 press conference Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that Garcia would face felony charges for aggravated animal crueltywctv.tv. State Attorney Susan Lopez vowed he would “face the music,” noting that under current law he could get up to five years in prison, and expressing hope that legislators would impose harsher penalties for abandoning pets during emergencies. Lopez said, “We should be protecting our pets during a storm, not leaving them for dead,” and called it impossible to imagine someone tying a “defenseless animal” to a pole as a Category 5 hurricane (Milton briefly reached Cat 5 intensity offshore) approached.

In 2025, Florida lawmakers unanimously passed “Trooper’s Law,” making it a felony to abandon a restrained animal during a natural disaster. The bill, if signed, would allow up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine for offenders. In his 2025 State of the State address, DeSantis highlighted the rescue: “FHP Trooper Orlando Morales rescued [a dog] as water was rising to the dog’s neck. The dog has been renamed ‘Trooper’ and is now in a safe and loving home. Thank you, Trooper Morales!” Humane society officials said Trooper’s story underscores the many animals needing adoption and the impact one rescue can have.

Today

As of early 2025, Trooper lives happily with the Spinas and their terrier Dallas. The Spinas consider him “like a child” and say he is receiving the care he deserves. Carla Spina told the Leon County Humane Society, “We just want everyone to know we are going to give him the best life”. The family hopes Trooper’s journey – from abandoned pup to survivor – will inspire others to adopt shelter animals. Trooper’s remarkable story shows how one rescue amid disaster can capture hearts and lead to change