FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The dog dubbed “Trooper” after being found by Florida Highway Patrol troopers during Hurricane Milton evacuations in October had surgery in Fort Lauderdale this week to remove “material” from his stomach.
According to a post on social media, Frank Spina, Trooper’s owner, said a scan at the veterinarian’s office showed he had more than two pounds of garbage in his stomach. It included plastic, rubber and metal.
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After four hours of surgery in Fort Lauderdale, the brave boy is now home recovering.
Spina’s family adopted Trooper in December 2024.
He came home to a canine sister named Dallas, who is also a Bull Terrier rescue.
His new family said it was love at first sight when Trooper and Dallas met. At one point they said they were worried Trooper’s happily wagging tail would helicopter him out of the yard.
Florida Highway Patrol troopers found Trooper in belly-high water, abandoned along Interstate 75, near Pebble Creek, north of Tampa during evacuations for Hurricane Milton.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said Trooper’s owner was identified and arrested in mid-October and will face aggravated animal cruelty charges, which is a third-degree felony.
“It’s totally unacceptable, and we are going to hold you accountable,” said DeSantis.
Giovanny Aldama Garcia, 23, of Ruskin, Florida was arrested on Oct. 14.
Garcia could face up to five years in prison.
For more information about helping dogs like Trooper, visit www.leoncountyhumane.org/donate.