Dog Abandoned in Crate on Tampa Interstate

A dog was found abandoned in a collapsible wire crate on the northbound shoulder of Interstate 275 near Bearss Avenue in Tampa, Florida, early Wednesday morning, after being spotted by a passing motorist. The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) responded to the scene and called Hillsborough County Animal Control, who rescued the uninjured dog. Authorities are urging anyone with information about the dog's owner to contact FHP at *347. This incident comes after Florida enacted new laws making it a felony to abandon or restrain a dog outside during a natural disaster and increasing penalties for animal cruelty. The legislation was prompted by prior high-profile animal abandonment cases in the Tampa area. Investigators have not yet disclosed potential charges for the dog's abandonment.