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PETITION TARGET: Governor Ron DeSantis

As Hurricane Milton loomed near, a dog was found standing in chest-deep water, tethered to a wire fence next to a Florida highway, unable to escape to safety, according to local news. The dog, now named Trooper, was rescued and has since been adopted. His former guardian, charged with aggravated animal cruelty, faces up to five years in prison if convicted.

Trooper’s story went viral — inspiring many to ask how someone could abandon a defenseless dog to die in a hurricane and why laws prohibiting such cruelty aren’t stronger.

Now, a new bill — Florida House Bill 205 or “Trooper’s Law” — could increase penalties for anyone who abandons a tethered dog outdoors amid a natural disaster. The crime would be considered a third-degree felony and may result in incarceration, a maximum fine of $10,000, or both.

The fear Trooper likely felt, unable to escape as the water level rose gradually underneath him, is something no animal should ever have to experience.

Sign our petition urging Governor Ron DeSantis to fully support “Trooper’s Law” and help institute stronger protections for animals in Florida who are abandoned and tethered during natural disasters.