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Trooper, the dog seen in a viral video abandoned outside during Hurricane Milton, is continuing to capture hearts and inspire change.
Trooper's Law, a bill that would make restraining and abandoning a dog outside during a natural disaster a third-degree felony, passed the Florida Senate on Wednesday in a 39-0 vote.
The bull terrier who inspired the bill was left tied to a fence on the side of Interstate 75 in Tampa, facing belly-high floodwaters as Category 5 Hurricane Milton approached the state. A Florida Highway Patrol trooper spotted the dog, rescued him and posted a video of the encounter on social media where it has been seen by more than 12 million people.
The dog was aptly renamed "Trooper" and adopted into a loving family, Frank and Carla Spina of Parkland. His previous owner, 23-year-old Giovanny Aldama Garcia, was charged with aggravated animal cruelty.
“You don’t just tie up a dog and have them out there for a storm,” DeSantis said after Aldama Garcia’s arrest in October. “It’s totally unacceptable and we’re going to hold you accountable.”
Since his adoption, Trooper has faced a number of health scares.
“Trooper was full of garbage,” Spina wrote on social media. “That creep who abused him apparently was starving him also.” He added, “My best friend Trooper is home.”