When patrol troopers first shared the clip of a Bull Terrier up to his chest in floodwater, animal lovers around the world were left in disbelief.
The dog had been abandoned by his owner, who had cruelly tied him to a fence to await the arrival of the hurricane.
The shocking act of cruelty
It was Trooper Orlando Morales who first received a call about the dog. He attended immediately, and after a few words of reassurance, managed to cut the terrified pup free.
Trooper, as the Bull Terrier was later named, has since been moved to a loving foster home, where he's decompressing from his ordeal and learning to "enjoy all the good things in life".
Meanwhile, Giovanny Aldama Garcia, aged 23-years-old, has been arrested for the abandonment of his dog Jumbo.
Garcia allegedly told investigators that he abandoned the dog because nobody would take him in during the evacuations. For State Attorney Suzy Lopez, there is no justification that could possibly excuse his behaviour.
"In Hillsborough County we take animal cruelty very seriously", she said in a statement. "The defendant is charged with a felony and could face up to five years in prison for his actions. Quite frankly, I don't think that's enough".
A tribute to Trooper
Leon County Humane Society, who is currently responsible for Trooper's care, shared an update on Facebook for all those following the story.
"We can appreciate that many are following this case closely and have questions, however this is an ongoing investigation ", they wrote.
"Thank you to everyone who has followed his story, for caring and advocating for those with no voice. We stress that there are thousands of dogs who deserve this level of attention, care and advocacy, and hope that Trooper's situation inspires a kinder future for all dogs".
