Heartbreaking video shows abandoned dog chained to fence by owners in flooded area amid Hurricane Milton

TAMPA, FLORIDA: A heartbreaking scene emerged from Florida after Hurricane Milton made landfall in the state on Wednesday, October 9.

An abandoned dog was found chained to the fence by its cruel owners amid rising floodwaters, leaving no way for the pet to escape.

A Florida trooper came to the rescue of the small dog, which was fenced to a poll near a major highway as the Category 4 storm hit the state, according to Daily Mail.

Florida Highway Patrol, Tampa, shared the heartbreaking video on X (formerly Twitter) and wrote, "FHP Troopers rescued a dog left tied to a pole on I-75 near Bruce B Downs Blvd this morning. Do NOT do this to your pets please…"

Florida Highway Patrolman finds dog stuck in chest-level water

The anonymous Florida Highway Patrolman could be seen approaching a white dog through a grassy area on the I-75 near Bruce B Downs Boulevard road near Tampa.

"It's OK, buddy, it's OK," the trooper said to the abandoned animal, which started growling and barking. The officer neared the chained dog and found it was standing with no way to escape the floodwaters that rose to its chest.

"I don't blame you," the patrolman said. "It's OK, buddy, it's OK," he added when he was unable to pacify the growling dog.

However, the video does not depict the subsequent rescue, leaving the dog's fate unknown. The identity of the dog's owner remains unclear, and no further details on how it was chained to the fence amid Hurricane Milton are also unavailable. 

Flordia Governor Ron DeSantis voiced his gratitude to the Highway Patrol for saving the abandoned dog.

"Thank you @FHPTampa. It is cruel for anyone to leave a dog tied to a post in the middle of an oncoming storm. FL will hold anyone who mistreats pets accountable," he wrote on X.

Tampa residents warned to evacuate amid Hurricane Milton

The Tampa region is expected to face the catastrophe of Hurricane Milton until Thursday, October 10, afternoon, bringing 10 to 15 inches of rain along with storm surges, also known as a wall of water, reaching up to 12 feet in flood-prone regions.

The city's airport shut down on Tuesday, October 8, and the residents have been urged to evacuate the area.

President Joe Biden called the cyclone that made its landfall near Florida's Sarasota "the storm of the century," reported The Guardian.

Hurricane Milton is the second storm in less than two weeks to rampage the Sunshine State after Hurricane Helene. The storm left over 2 million homes without power.

To those who refused to evacuate the region, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor warned that their homes "ultimately will be a coffin."

Owners slammed for chaining dog to the fence amid Hurricane Milton

Netizens blasted the "heartless" dog owners, who remain unidentified, for chaining their pet to the fence amid Hurricane Milton's rising floodwaters. Many social media users demanded they should face legal consequences for animal cruelty.

"This is ridiculous. The owner needs to face legal consequences," one user wrote.

"I hope that dog is chipped, and they find the owner and charge them with Animal abuse that his horrible we are literally getting hit by a hurricane in hours," another added.

"People who harm children and pets are the lowest in society and need to be dealt with accordingly," added a third user.

"Absolutely heartbreaking and cruel that anyone would abandon their pet. Well done and thank you for rescuing them," read a fourth response.

"That's absolutely heartless to treat your pet like that," an individual said.

"This is cruel and criminal. If they find the owners they should be arrested," someone else said.

"Whoever did this is evil," another user wrote.

"This needs to be animal cruelty and the owners need to be charged if you can locate them! Hope that baby is chipped and finds a far better home. Thank you for rescuing them!" read one remark.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.