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NZ Herald
03-08-2025
- NZ Herald
How a dog's hurricane rescue in rising waters changed Florida law
'I don't blame you. It's okay,' he continued, before he brought the dog to the safety of his cruiser. Nearly a year later, the dog, a bull terrier who was named Trooper after his saviour, has been thriving in his new home in suburban Parkland, Florida, with Frank and Carla Spina and his adoptive sister, Dallas, who is of the same breed. On weekends, Trooper and Dallas enjoy chowing down on scrambled eggs. Trooper's story has inspired a new Florida law that makes restraining and abandoning pets during a natural disaster a criminal offence. The terrier with dark brown ears has also been recognised by city officials in Parkland as the 'top dog' there, and residents instantly recognise him when he's out and about. 'He is great, absolutely fantastic,' Frank Spina said in a recent interview from his home, as Trooper lazily lounged next to him on a beige sofa — his favourite spot — while nudging him with his nose to be petted. 'I was in disbelief.' At first, Morales thought the call about a tethered dog on the side of the road was bogus, but he decided to investigate anyway. 'I had seen the head pop up from a distance from the interstate,' he recalled in an interview. 'I was in disbelief,' he added. 'There is legitimately a dog right here,' he recalled thinking. Morales said Trooper 'seemed scared, nervous and angry at the same time'. He was in standing water, and his collar appeared to have got caught in a fence, Morales said. 'It was heartwarming' to get to save him, Morales said, 'but it was also upsetting to see a dog in that type of condition in that environment, especially as a Category 5 was approaching.' An undated image courtesy of the Florida Highway Patrol of the bull terrier found tethered and abandoned along Interstate 75 near Tampa as people fled intensifying weather and flooding from approaching Hurricane Milton. Photo / Courtesy of the Florida Highway Patrol via The New York Times Morales has his own rescue dog at home, so he knew what to do. 'I tried to get on his level, calm him down and just take as much time as needed,' Morales said. The trooper used a makeshift leash and eventually led the dog back to his cruiser, where there was a blanket waiting for him. 'He willingly went ahead and walked in,' he said. Morales took the dog to the Hillsborough County animal shelter to be checked out. He later drove him to the Leon County Humane Society in Tallahassee, where Trooper was placed in foster care and put up for adoption. His previous owner was charged with animal cruelty. The Florida Highway Patrol shared the dog's story on its social media accounts, urging residents, 'Do NOT do this to your pets please'. Within days, on October 15, his owner was charged aggravated animal cruelty. Giovanny Aldama Garcia, 24, of Ruskin, Florida, admitted to abandoning the dog, according to Suzy Lopez, the state lawyer for Florida's 13th Judicial Circuit. Garcia told investigators that he was driving to Georgia to escape the hurricane, but left his dog, whom he called Jumbo, on the side of the road 'because he couldn't find anyone to pick the dog up', Lopez said. A lawyer for Garcia, Tony Lopez Mora, said his client 'denies that there was any case of animal cruelty and the case is set for trial later this year'. If convicted, Garcia faces up to five years in prison. His next court hearing is September 17. Now, Trooper is thriving in Parkland. Frank and Carla Spina, a trial lawyer and hospital executive, knew they were smitten when they came across Trooper's rescue story. The couple had been raising bull terriers since 1992, and they thought Trooper bore a striking resemblance to Diesel, their 16-year-old bull terrier, who died in 2024. 'We need to get him,' Frank Spina recalled telling his wife. 'Diesel is sending us to get him.' They inquired about the dog, and in November the Spinas welcomed Trooper to their family, where he would live alongside Dallas, who is 8. She was rescued in Texas in 2019. When Trooper arrived, he was in rough shape, the couple said, with his legs stained brown from living in dirt. He also appeared thinner than he should have been, Frank Spina, 62, recalled in an interview. The Spinas hired a trainer to come once a week and teach him basic commands. They also took him to the veterinarian, but it would take some time to get him healthy. About a month after Trooper's arrival, his veterinarian discovered two quarter-size lumps above his ribs, which turned out to be cancerous. An operation to remove them was successful, and Trooper is now cancer-free, the couple said. Frank and Carla Spina, who adopted Trooper, with city officials for a presentation. Photo / City of Parkland via The New York Times Then, more scans revealed that unknown objects were lodged in the dog's stomach. Frank Spina recalled one night when Trooper vomited a piece of rubber that measured '2 inches by 2 inches [5cm by 5cm]'. Trooper went through a four-hour endoscopy to remove more than a kilogram of plastic, metal and rubber material from his stomach, Frank Spina said. He said he believed the dog had been starving and forced to eat whatever it could find. 'That is what he has been through,' Frank Spina said through tears. 'Trooper's Law' penalises the abandonment of dogs in natural disasters. This May, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Florida Senate Bill 150, which makes it an offence to restrain and abandon a dog outdoors 'during a declared natural disaster or at any time' when a mandatory or voluntary evacuation order is in effect. Animal rights supporters hailed the bill, which was paired with another animal protection measure that increases penalties for animal cruelty. 'There's never an acceptable excuse for such gross animal cruelty and neglect, even during an emergency,' the Pet Advocacy Network, a national group based in Alexandria, Virginia, said in a statement about the law. 'Trooper's Law' takes effect on October 1. 'Parkland's top dog' eats scrambled eggs and holidays at Universal. These days, Trooper enjoys a life of leisure, often lounging on a beige sofa in a cool home office where he watches TV. 'This is his couch,' Frank Spina said as the dog splayed out at his side while looking up at him. 'This is where he loves to be.' Trooper has two beds in crates at the residence. 'He needs safe spaces,' Frank Spina said. Daily meals include kibble and sweet potato. Weekends call for scrambled eggs. 'He only drinks filtered water,' Frank Spina said of Trooper, who went on his first holiday to Universal Orlando Resort in April. 'He is doing great, and he's got his sister.' In Parkland, Trooper is a celebrity. City officials there formally recognised him in February, presenting him and his owners with a bandanna and wristbands that read 'We love Trooper' and 'Parkland's Top Dog.' Nearly a year later, Morales said he was still grateful that the dog he rescued, as a destructive storm threatened the state, would go on to have a better life. 'He gets the happy ending that he deserves,' he said. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Written by: Johnny Diaz Photographs by: City of Parkland, the Florida Highway Patrol ©2025 THE NEW YORK TIMES
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Trooper's tale: From being Tallahassee rescue dog to inspiring Florida law
Florida is protecting its pooches — and cracking down on those who mistreat the four-legged friends. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two animal rights bills on May 28 at a rescue organization in Palm Beach County. The bills include Trooper's Law, which will make it a crime to restrain animals outside during natural disasters and abandon them. It's named after the bull terrier that captured the attention of people around the state when he was found in chest-high water, tied to a fence off of Interstate 75 during Hurricane Milton. His story got a happy ending when he was adopted by a Parkland couple after being taken to the Leon County Humane Society. The offense would be a third-degree felony, punishable by a fine up to $10,000 or prison time. And he signed Dexter's Law, would require the Department of Law Enforcement to post the names of people who have violated animal cruelty laws online. It's named after a dog found decapitated at Fort DeSoto Beach days after he was adopted from the Pinellas County Animal Shelter, according to NBC affiliate WFLA. DeSantis signed these pieces of legislation at Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Loxahatchee. Florida state trooper Orlando Morales rescued the bull terrier after the pooch was abandoned tied to a pole on I-75 as Hurricane Milton approached Florida. The bills include Trooper's Law, which will make it a crime to restrain animals outside during natural disasters and then abandon them. Trooper was rescued by a Florida state trooper on the side of I-75 near Bruce B Downs Blvd. on the morning of Oct. 9, 2024. Hurricane Milton made landfall on Florida's west coast around 8:30 p.m. that night. Giovanny Aldama Garcia, 23, was identified as the owner of "Trooper," the abandoned dog left tied to a fence standing in a pool of water amid Hurricane Milton evacuations in Florida. Garcia was arrested on Oct. 14, 2024. The following day, State Attorney Suzy Lopez shared in a press release that Garcia was charged with aggravated animal cruelty, after admitting to leaving his dog, formerly known as "Jumbo," on the interstate because he "couldn't find anyone to pick the dog up." He faces up to five years in prison. His case status was unavailable as of May 28. The five-year-old Bull terrier was taken in by the Leon County Humane Society on Oct. 9. Trooper then was placed in a foster care home with owners who had experience with his breed, according to the Leon County Humane Society. In December, Trooper was adopted by Frank and Carla Spina and now lives with new friend Dallas, a seven-year-old mini Bull terrier, in Parkland. Trooper faced multiple health scares, however, and his new family supported him as he underwent successful surgery to remove cancerous tumors. X-rays also found foreign substances inside his stomach. Trooper had about two pounds of rubber and plastic removed, according to specialist veterinary surgeon Randy Dominguez. The Animal Rights Foundation of Florida urges you to call 911 if you witness an animal in a life-threatening situation. It is a crime to abuse or cruelly kill an animal, or to confine an animal without sufficient food, water or exercise in Florida. To report the abuse of wild animals such as illegal hunting or fishing, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at (888) 404-3922 or report the incident online. Contributing: Kyla A Sanford, Gabriel Velasquez Neira and Ella Thompson of FRESH TAKE FLORIDA. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Rescued, brought to Tallahassee, 'Trooper' the dog inspires state law
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Animal abusers will face harsher penalties under newly signed bills
DeSantis signed Trooper's Law on May 28, 2025. (Photo via via Leon County Humane Society Facebook) Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two bills Wednesday that will increase fines and sentences for people convicted of abusing pets or restraining them outside during natural disasters. Lawmakers passed the bills, HB 255 and SB 150, in honor of Dexter, a bulldog mix found decapitated and dumped in St. Petersburg, and Trooper, a bull terrier a Florida Highway Patrol officer found tied to a fence along Interstate 75 as Hurricane Milton approached. 'Current sentencing guidelines don't match the gravity of these crimes, and it was evident that Florida law needed to do more to protect dogs from senseless violence,' DeSantis said during the bill signing ceremony in Loxahatchee. Dexter's Law, which will go into effect July 1, creates a sentencing multiplier for people convicted of intentionally torturing, mutilating, or killing a pet, meaning that they could serve a longer sentence. Under the bill, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement must create, by the beginning of 2026, a database of people who plead guilty or no contest or who have been convicted of animal cruelty. At least seven counties and Tallahassee have a registry of animal abusers, according to a legislative bill analysis. A judge sentenced the 66-year-old who decapitated Dexter days after adopting him last year and dumped his body in Fort De Soto Park to a year and 60 days in jail, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Trooper's Law will go into effect on Oct. 1 and will make it a third-degree felony to restrain and abandon a dog outside during a natural disaster. Third-degree felonies are punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 and imprisonment for up to five years. Trooper Orlando Morales said he'd responded to a report of an animal in distress 'It took several loops, but I thank God that He gave me the right time and right place of where to be, and after the second or third loop, I was able to find a dog clearly in water, in distress,' Morales said. 'And it was a horrific moment to be in.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
