Dog Left Outside Before Hurricane Finally Learns What Unconditional Love Is

The devastating story of a dog that was abandoned before Hurricane Milton in Florida has moved social media users—but now she’s found a foster home and will see what real, unconditional love truly is.

Winnie, thought to be a retriever and Newfoundland mix, was found outside a home in Tampa two days after Milton made landfall on October 9. She was spotted by Dominique Amerosa, director of Rags to Riches Animal Rescue, who saw her lying outside alone, looking extremely malnourished.

Amerosa told Newsweek that Winnie’s former owner evacuated and rather than finding proper care for the dog, she was “put outside right before the hurricane.” instead. It’s unclear how she managed to survive the Category 3 storm, which killed at least 24 people and left over 3 million residents without power.

With a bit of encouragement and support, Amerosa managed to get Winnie into her car and took her straight to the vet. She was given medication to treat a problem with her eyes, as well as a dewormer, and had blood work and X-rays taken. A biopsy of the growth on her snout is being done.

“She was malnourished, starved and stiff from laying in the same spot,” Amerosa said. “We have no idea how she managed to survive because Milton was terrible here.

“Her owner suffered from dementia, and the family was well aware that she had a dog, and yet they still chose to put the dog outside when evacuating her instead of providing care for the animal,” she said.

When she was first rescued, Winnie was taken in as a temporary foster pet for a couple of weeks while Rags to Riches Animal Rescue searched for a longer-term placement. It has finally managed to secure a permanent foster home for her, and she will be moving there in the coming days.

Winnie was said to be very quiet initially in the foster home, but after a few days she started learning how to “act like a dog” again. Now, her true personality is beginning to shine through, which Amerosa said is “so heartwarming to see.”

It will no doubt take the poor pup a while to recover from what she’s been through, and she needs to gain a lot of weight. But Amerosa is hopeful that she will get adopted in the future, as she’d make such a wonderful pet.

“She’s very docile and laid-back, but she loves playing and chewing a bone, carrying toys around and even snuggling up on a bed that someone kindly sent her. She will be up for adoption soon. She seems to really love other dogs, so I would suggest a home with another pet because she’d need to have a friend.”

How Did Social Media React?

Footage showing the moment Winnie was rescued was shared on Rags to Riches’ TikTok account (@ragstorichesanimalrescu). The video later shows how much happier she looks in her foster home, as she is seen lying on a bed receiving some fuss.

The caption layered over the clip reads: “Winnie got dealt a bad hand, but now she’s only ever [going to] know love.” The post went viral with more than 31,100 views and 3,700 likes on TikTok in just days.

Many users praised the work that Amerosa’s rescue organization does, and she hopes it will encourage others to help an animal in need. “I always recommend to people that if you see something, say something because it could save a life,” she told Newsweek.

Among the commenters on the viral TikTok post, many were devastated by Winnie’s story and thanked Amerosa for saving her life.

One wrote: “And she’s just waiting by the front door for them to come home. That breaks my heart. How can you do that to an animal.”

Another said: “Poor puppy, she just looks so defeated. So glad she’s safe now.”

“My heart is broken for this sweet baby. Thank you for saving this love,” a user added.

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.