Last October, as Hurricane Milton swept through Florida, rescuers discovered a dog abandoned to die. Before the hurricane had hit, someone had chained the dog - a Bull Terrier named Trooper - to a pole on the side of a highway. Then, the people had left Trooper there to face the floods and winds alone.
Luckily, his story has
inspired lawmakers to protect other pets from enduring similar stress and trauma. Called "Trooper's Law," it creates specific penalties for anyone who abandons a pet during a natural disaster.
This is an uplifting end to this story. We must congratulate Florida and encourage the larger U.S. to pass a similar federal law! Sign the petition to build on this important momentum!Since last year, Trooper has been adopted out to a new loving family. He was lucky to live long enough to get this second chance at life. By the time rescuers had found him, he was standing in floodwaters that already reached as high as his chest.
Even worse, officials realized that Trooper's previous owners had been starving him. Inside his belly, veterinarians discovered upwards of 2 pounds of trash, rubber, and plastic that he'd eaten in a desperate attempt to stay alive.
But today, not only is Trooper in a safe, happy forever home - he's also the inspiration for Florida's new bill to protect other pets like him.
And Florida isn't the only state facing natural disasters. As climate change steadily worsens each year, not only are hurricanes becoming more intense and frequent, but so are wildfires, droughts, mudslides, and other tragedies.
That's why we must urge Congress to now recreate a federal version of this law to keep pets safe around the country! Sign the petition!