“A Match Made in Heaven”: Parkland Couple Adopts Dog Found Trapped, Abandoned in Rising Water

A Parkland couple has adopted a long-abused bull terrier named Trooper authorities found tied to a fence and trapped in rising water during Hurricane Milton.

Frank and Carla Spina, who have owned multiple bull terriers over the course of four decades, have been caring for their sprightly new addition for nearly a month.

“We lost our baby [bull terrier] Diesel in April at age 16, and we were devastated,” Frank Spina, 61, told Parkland Talk Wednesday. “Me and my wife have never had children. We raise bull terriers, so they became our children, and Diesel was everything to us. When I lost him, it put a hole through my body that I knew would never be filled.”

Then, the Spinas saw news footage of a terrified bull terrier abandoned and partially submerged in belly-deep water alongside I-75 in Tampa as Hurricane Milton approached in October. A Florida Highway Patrol trooper, acting on a tip about the tied-up canine, launched a tenacious search until he found the trapped pup.

Trooper, a male who appears to be about three years old, is named in the FHP patrolman’s honor.

“We really believe that that video we saw of Trooper was sent by Diesel,” Frank Spina said. “He sent that animal to us and said, ‘You guys have to save him.’ And that’s what he did. Trooper has helped to fill that hole that Diesel left.”

According to state prosecutors, Trooper’s former owner, identified by investigators as Giovanny Aldama Garcia, admitted to leaving his dog – then named Jumbo – alongside I-75 as he evacuated the area ahead of the hurricane.

 

Authorities said Garcia told investigators he was driving to Georgia and could not find anyone to take his dog. Records show he was charged with aggravated animal cruelty, a felony.

“When Trooper came to us, he was obviously a little bit raw because the family that had him before us had abused him,” Frank Spina said. “You could see he had been living outside a lot. He had a lot of callouses on his elbows and ankles from lying on hard surfaces like concrete. So we immediately called our trainer.”

Over the course of three weeks, dog trainer Logan Saich and his Broward-based Dogs Gone Mild Dog Training Service transformed Trooper’s behavior and has the canine “living his best life,” Frank Spina said.

Trooper and Dallas {Photo by Frank Spino}

“He’s a wonderful dog,” said Spina.

Spina, a recently retired trial lawyer, and his wife Carla, 57, a hospital administrator, have 33 years of experience with bull terriers – a devoted, playful, joyfully mischievous breed with an unmistakable appearance.

In 1992, the Spinas fell in love with their first bull terrier, Crunchy, who lived until age 16 and died in 2008. Around two months later they took home Diesel, who also lived to be nearly 16. They also adopted a bull terrier found on the streets of Dallas, Texas, the city for which that pup is named.

When the Leon County Humane Society opened the application process for Trooper, Carla Spina sent the documents along with a three-page letter about the Spinas’ history of saving bull terriers.

Shelter officials liked the Spinas’ application but worried Frank, as a man, might not be a good fit; Trooper’s abuser was male, and the dog didn’t react well to men, the Spinas were told.

“I told [the coordinator] I have 33 years of history with bull terriers; he’s definitely going to react well with me,” Frank Spina said. “And if you’d like we can drive up seven and a half hours and I’ll show you how he reacts with me. And she said, ‘that would be fantastic.’”

Along with their dog Dallas, the Spinas set off for Leon County and met with Trooper.

By all accounts, it was love at first sniff.

“A match made in heaven,” Frank Spina said. 

Since that day, Trooper has been exploring Parkland with gusto with his devoted best friend, Dallas, at his side.

“Dallas,” Frank Spina joked, “has stars in her eyes.”

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