TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – As Hurricane Milton was inching closer to Tampa Bay, many evacuated along with their pets. However, one bull terrier was found tied to a fence along Interstate 75 in Tampa. That dog, named Trooper, was rescued by the Florida Highway Patrol. Now, there’s a new law named in his honor that was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday.

“This story is exactly the type of cruelty that we cannot tolerate in the free state of Florida,” DeSantis said.

Trooper’s previous owner, who has since been charged with aggravated animal cruelty told authorities that he was evacuating to Georgia, and nobody would pick up the dog.

“That's bad enough, but the water was rising very quickly,” DeSantis said.

What’s known as “Trooper’s Law” makes it a third-degree felony for abandoning or ne

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