PARKLAND, Fla. (CBS) – We’ve got an update on Trooper, the dog who was found abandoned in chest-deep water as Hurricane Milton barreled toward Florida in October.
From abandoned to adored, Trooper has a new family and a new home.
Trooper and his sister, Dallas, loved each other the moment they met.
But as many now know, Trooper’s story began with a call to police reporting a dog tied to a post, abandoned in chest-deep water as Hurricane Milton barreled toward Florida.
But after Trooper’s rescue, it was clear that with patience, love and a whole lot of belly rubs he would thrive in the right home. Over the last few weeks, hundreds have applied to be his forever family, said the Leon County Humane Society’s Amy Raddar.
“The outpouring has been so great,” she said.
Raddar said they were looking for a very specific adopter for Trooper. Bull terriers are a unique breed, known for being sweet dogs, but also high energy, strong and stubborn.
“I don’t always say people have to have breed experience, but in that particular dog, I think it’s important,” Raddar said.
About 400 miles away in Parkland, Florida, a friend forwarded a story about Trooper to Carla Spina, who showed her husband Frank.
“I said to Frank, ‘Did you hear this story?’ And see I’m going to start crying,” she said as she teared up. “And he said ‘Yeah, I didn’t tell you because I knew you would get upset.‘”
That’s because the Spinas are bull terrier owners but more importantly, they love the breed.
“We’ve always had an affinity for bull terriers,” Frank Spina said. “That’s the breed that we love, they’re special.”
They got their first, named Krunchie, in 1992, followed by Diesel, and a few years ago, they adopted Dallas.
“When we saw trooper, it was kinda relighting that fire,” Frank Spina said. “We saw this dog, we know he needs, he needs help.”
So they applied, but there was one major hurdle: Frank. Trooper is weary of men because of his past trauma, and the humane society wasn’t sure it would work out.
“So I said how about we get in the car and drive seven and a half hours to Tallahassee, and I’ll show you what 33 years of bull terrier dad does,” he said. “So we did that. And when we got there, they let him loose and Amy said, ‘Frank, why don’t you sit on that bench and see what happens.’ And he came over and he got under my legs and I started scratching and his foot started moving and she said, ‘Perfect match!’”
And during that first meeting, everyone was smitten.
The family was so excited when Raddar dropped Trooper off at his new home.
“It’s Trooper! There’s Trooper! It’s your brother!” they said to Dallas.
When it came time for Raddar to say goodbye to Trooper, she knew he would be in good hands.
“I’ve never felt so comfortable leaving him,” she told Carla Spina.
“We will take good care of him,” Carla Spina replied emotionally.
“I know you will,” Raddar said, also crying. “It’s happy tears, not sad tears.”
It didn’t take Trooper long to start making himself right at home. Seeing him with his new dad makes it hard to believe he is the same dog who’s afraid of men
“We got you, buddy, we got you, you’re in good hands with us,” Frank Spina said.
The Spinas said they are overjoyed to have a new little family member.
“We’re really excited, it’s almost like we had a baby like she had a baby today,” Frank Spina said. “We are beside ourselves. We are like living in a dream, we just can’t believe a month ago we saw a news report and now a month later he’s in my bedroom.”
For the Spinas, it feels like their family’s missing piece was found. And for Trooper, it seems his rough start to life is now fading into the past, and all he will know going forward is love.
“We just want everyone to know we are going to give him the best life,” Carla Spina said.
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