Russell 2000 Index

SARASOTA, FL — The morning after Hurricane Milton ravaged the Sarasota area in October, Alicia Hodgins was surprised when her husband yelled for her to join him in their yard, as an unexpected visitor had arrived in the storm’s aftermath. Once she stepped out the door, she saw a large, white dog, looking beaten down by the weather and life, standing outside their home. “He just appeared in front of our house,” she told Patch. “He was defeated; he was just defeated. He could barely walk and he came up to my better half, staring at him, like, ‘Help me.’” Hodgins was used to helping lost dogs roaming the neighborhood find their way home and the animal lover immediately made it her mission to assist the pup, which the couple started calling Milton, after the storm that blew him their way. Something about Milton seemed different from the moment they laid eyes on him, though. And weeks after the hurricane, she’s still working tirelessly to help him find a home. “It was heartbreaking. We gave him water and some food, and a neighbor up the block gave him some meatloaf,” Hodgins said. “We brought him closer to the house and gave him a nice bath. He smelled horrible, and we just started taking care of him.” Talking to others in their neighborhood, the couple learned that Milton was first spotted in the area, around Carmella Circle and Connecticut Avenue, well before the devastating Hurricane Helene hit in September. “That made me feel even worse. He survived two hurricanes by himself,” Hodgins told Patch. Like she usually does when helping lost pups, she posted photos of Milton to lost pets and community groups on social media sites. “Usually, people surface quickly, but by the next day, nobody was calling about him. I told my husband, ‘I don’t think he has anybody,’” she said. Even after a couple of days of TLC, Milton was “in rough shape,” which called for a trip to the vet, she said. He was treated for fleas, given IV fluids and prescription dog food, and tested positive for heartworm. He’s currently being treated for both hookworm and heartworm. Though they briefly thought they found his previous owner, who claimed Milton was a third-generation domesticated white wolf, this was quickly debunked. A vet later determined that Milton was a husky and shepherd mix, about 4 years old, Hodgins said. “His one blue and one green eye are part of that husky trait.” Hodgins then created a Facebook page, “Milton’s New Life,” to share his journey. With three dogs of her own at home, he’s not able to stay with her. So, she’s working with the Sarasota-based no-kill rescue Satchel’s Last Resort, which boards and helps dogs and cats with nowhere else to go because of breed, behavior or medical issues, to house Milton. He’s being trained by Julie Madison, the owner of Top Tier K9 in Bradenton. Training efforts have focused on basic obedience and play training. “He’s excelling and doing wonderful,” Hodgins said. “He’s a good boy. He’s such a good boy.” Now, the team behind Milton is making a last push for donations through a GoFundMe fundraiser to pay for his training and treatment. As of Friday morning, about $5,900 has been raised. Any money left over will be donated to Satchel’s. They’re setting up meet-and-greets with prospective adopters in hopes of finding Milton a permanent home. Wherever he goes, the dog’s free training will continue. Milton will make “a great companion” for an active household that can give him a lot of attention, Hodgins said. “He deserves a really good home. He’s been through a lot and is still learning how to trust, but he’s pulling a lot of people together who are just rooting for him,” she added. “He’s really a sweet, sweet dog, and he just wants attention — and nobody came for him. I don’t know where he came from when he approached our house, but from where he was to where he is now, it’s amazing; I don’t know how he did it.”