WATCH: Dog found tied to pole along Florida interstate ahead of Hurricane Milton

TAMPA, Fla. ( WFLA ) — As residents were continuing to evacuate Wednesday morning, an abandoned dog was found alongside an interstate near Tampa, Florida.

Heartbreaking video shows a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper pulled over along Interstate 75 where last-minute evacuations continued ahead of Hurricane Milton.

The trooper appears to jump over a rain-drenched ditch and walk toward the scared white dog, who was tied up to a fence and up to its torso in water. Rain was already falling in the area Wednesday morning, well ahead of Milton.

As the trooper neared the dog, it began to growl and bark.

“I don’t blame you,” the trooper says. “I don’t blame you, it’s OK, buddy, it’s OK.”

Florida Highway Patrol says the dog was rescued, but the video cuts off before it happens.

“Do NOT do this to your pets please…” the agency wrote on social media .

Officials encourage everyone evacuating ahead of Milton to bring their pets with them.

Hurricane Milton, a Category 4 storm as of Wednesday afternoon, is expected to make landfall before the day ends.

Read the latest from NEWS10:

• COVID may increase risk of heart attack, death years after infection: study
• House Democrats’ campaign chief defends vulnerable members keeping distance from Harris
• Women’s Health Wednesday: Breast Density
• Why Hurricane Milton became so intense so fast — and why more storms may do the same
• Supermarket chain takes unique approach to workforce development

NEWS10 is the Capital Region’s local news leader!

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NEWS10 ABC.