Trooper’s Law: New Florida measure puts teeth in protecting pets during hurricanes

During Hurricane Milton last year, troopers from the Florida Highway Patrol rescued a bull terrier from the side of the highway that had been chained up to a fence and abandoned during hurricane evacuations. The troopers who rescued him later gave him the perfect name: Trooper.

Related: Eight ways to prepare your anxious dog for fireworks.

In response to this story and to ensure animal safety during this hurricane season and all future ones, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis enacted a law on May 28th called "Trooper's Law". This law cracks down on animal cruelty, making it a felony to restrain or abandon an animal during an official emergency and in the preparation stage - punishable with up to five years in prison and a fine of $10,000. Also included in "Trooper's Law" are penalties for abandoning or confining an animal without sufficient water, food, or exercise. These penalties come in the form of a misdemeanor and similar fines to the felony charges.

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As an interning correspondent with The Apopka Voice pitching my first article, I asked if anything had been done to help Apopka pet owners better understand this new law. I wanted to help residents learn what they can do to protect their own pets during emergencies and extreme weather events, especially since our hurricane season has already begun. I was given the green light to dig in and find out more, and so began my research, starting with the Orange County Animal Shelter. They were happy to help, inviting me in to visit the facilities, to see how they handled animals in their care, and to talk at length with the public information officer, Bryant Almeida.

Right off, Almeida shared some key information concerning how the new legislation will impact the shelters.

"There's going to be more of a crackdown on dogs that have been abandoned during times of emergency," he said. "If you see an animal being neglected or abused, if you see an animal being abandoned, [or] you suspect someone abandoned an animal, people need [to] not be afraid to call us. Because even if they're wrong, it's not going to hurt to check, because animals can't call out to us, they can't ask for help. They're stuck wherever you place them."

It was a good point to remember. While the shelters will do what they can to help these animals, they are limited in their ability and need the public to help. They need people who care to become a voice for animals that need aid. Because unfortunately, without the public, the shelters and animal control can only do so much. 

While many might be worried about what to do with their pets during an emergency like a hurricane and think dropping them off at a shelter is a good idea, Alemida said it was crucial for people to exhaust all other options first before surrendering.

"We have a program called intake diversion, where a person makes an appointment if they are considering surrendering their animal," Almeida said. "One of our staff members will contact them and provide them with [alternative] options, like posting them online or on social media. There are websites for rehoming [your pet in an emergency]. Petfinder is one of them, one of the bigger ones. Even family and friends can hold on to them. We run pet-friendly shelters for evacuation purposes, [but] the shelter shouldn't be the first option."

As I toured the facilities, I saw firsthand the shelter's limitations. While surrendering an animal might feel right, the shelters are already low in space, resources, and staffing. With the number of abandoned strays and injured animals already there, it is truly important to exhaust all other options before deciding to surrender your pet to the shelter. The shelter may be at capacity, or the staff and care for the animals stretched thin with the ongoing emergency; so stop and consider if it really is the best option for your pet.

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Candy's Cats in Apopka provides options for rehoming and surrendering your pet, but they, too, suggest a few resources that can help: Pet Alliance is a no-kill shelter that accepts owner surrenders by appointment only, but notes there will be a wait to surrender; you can try Petfinder, click the shelter/rescue link on their site, and follow the prompts for help; you can also visit the Rehome website to adopt a pet that needs a home, or promote your own pet and reasons why you need help; Furry Nation Salvation also offers a rehoming program on its website; and lastly, there is a community outreach on NextDoor - Wednesday's Community Cats and Kittens of Central Florida. The folks on that page are independent community friends making a difference in their neighborhoods. 

Through my short time at the shelter, I better understood that local shelters offer so much to the public, but are often incorrectly perceived by the community, as well. While they truly want to help, they need your help, too. They need pet owners and people who care about protecting pets and animals - pets like Trooper - not only survive the storms, but thrive again in homes that care. I encourage everyone to visit your own local shelters and interact with the animals, volunteer to help the staff, share some of the love you have for animals with those that need it most. It's one way you can can help, not just during hurricane season, but throughout the year.

And certainly if you can, consider adopting a pet-in-need. Maybe just for a storm. Maybe for a season. Or maybe for a lifetime of love given and received. 

If none of those are options for you, please consider sharing this article and helping spread the message. Stay updated with animals shelters' social media pages and share their posts and information, as well. The more exposure to what's needed, the more help is possible. And the more the public engages with the shelters and shares information about their services and how to get involved, the more the shelter will accomplish in protecting and saving pets and animals that, in those scary hurricanes, need us more than ever. 

A few tips to help pet owners prepare for hurricane season:

1. Stock up on a two-week supply of food, water, and medication for the pets.
2. Ensure that you have first aid supplies for your pets and adequate sanitation (ie, Litterboxes)
3. Ensure the microchip and identification tags (ie, Dog tags on collars) are current.
4. Keep a copy of updated medical records and a current image of your pet.
5. Avoid leaving pets alone and provide them with a safe space inside.
6. Contact local shelters, online resources, and friends/family if you need to surrender or rehome your pet for their safety.
7. Stay informed and up to date.

Helpful resources:  

Candy's Cats: 307 West Main Street, Apopka 32712; (407)760-2052 

This resource does not take surrenders but encourages people to look into the following before an emergency  arises:

Orange County Animal Services: 2769 Conroy Road, Orlando 32839; (407) 836-3111

If you need help with your pet before/during /after a hurricane or tropical storm, try the following before surrendering your pet to OCAS:

1. Post online/social media that you need a temporary home for your pet (ie, Petfinder, rehome by adopt a pet, Furry Nation Salvation, and Nextdoor);
2. Talk with family/friends about taking your pet before the storm;
3. Look up pet-friendly shelters you can go to;
4. If you have no other options, set up an "intake diversion" appointment to talk with the shelter about taking your pet before the storm arrives.