Dog found tied to fence along in belly-high hurricane flood waters in Tampa

TAMPA, Fla. — Officials are asking everyone in the path of Category 4 Hurricane Milton to seek shelter. And Tampa troopers of the Florida Highway Patrol say that means everyone.

Troopers discovered a dog left tied to a fence along I-75 near Bruce B Downs Boulevard Wednesday morning. That’s near Pebble Creek, north of Tampa.

The flood waters were already reaching the dog’s belly hours before the hurricane is even expected to make landfall.

Troopers say the dog is now safe. 

Milton started forming as a tropical storm on Saturday. Early Monday morning, it quickly strengthened, going from a Category 2 storm to a large Category 5 hurricane by noon. Now, it moves toward the west coast of Florida as a Category 4. 

Landfall is expected to barrel into the area Wednesday night into Thursday morning.