Man who left dog tied to pole in Florida during Hurricane Milton faces felony charges, State Attorney says
By Kevin AccettullaGarrett PhillipsRachel Tucker,
16 hours ago
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The owner of Trooper, who was found tied to a pole during Hurricane Milton, will be charged with aggravated animal cruelty charges, according to State Attorney Susan Lopez.
While speaking at a news conference at the Falkenburg Road Jail Assembly Room, Lopez and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said crimes committed before and after Hurricane Milton will not be tolerated.
Giovanny Aldama Garcia, 23, of Ruskin, will be charged with aggravated animal cruelty, which is a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison. According to the State Attorney’s Office, Garcia told police he abandoned his dog “Jumbo” while on his way to Georgia because he “couldn’t find anyone to pick the dog up.”
The dog rescued by a trooper with the Florida Highway Patrol is safe and rehabilitating in Tallassee, according to the Leon County Humane Society. (Florida Highway Patrol Tampa)
Garcia reportedly showed up at the Hillsborough County Animal Shelter on Friday and showed pictures of the dog to claim ownership, according to an affidavit from the Florida Highway Patrol. Garcia’s information was passed on to the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, where the dog was taken.
Garcia said that if the foster would take care of the dog and love it, he would surrender ownership, according to the affidavit.
“In Hillsborough County, we take animal cruelty very seriously,” Lopez said in a statement. “This defendant is charged with a felony and could face up to five years in prison for his actions. Quite frankly, I don’t think that is enough. Hopefully, lawmakers take a look at this case and discuss changing the law to allow for harsher penalties for people who abandon their animals during a state of emergency.”
“On Wednesday, October 9, 2024, a dog, now known as Trooper, was found abandoned in flood waters up to his chest on Interstate-75 in Tampa while many residents were evacuating before Hurricane Milton,” said Dave Kerner, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. “Based upon a subsequent criminal investigation, State Troopers secured and executed a felony arrest warrant yesterday on Giovanny Aldama Garcia, 23, of Ruskin, Florida, for aggravated animal cruelty. Our agency is grateful for the unprecedented support of State Attorney Suzy Lopez and her prosecutors, particularly during a state of emergency. The criminal investigation is active and ongoing and additional information is unavailable at this time.”
Lopez also called on state lawmakers to make aggravated animal cruelty a crime that can have punishments enhanced during emergencies.
Another case the governor highlighted involved a Hillsborough County man arrested Sunday after he allegedly tried stealing a generator powering one of the county’s traffic lights.
Thank you to the officer that found the precious doggy. has for his owner chain him to a pole no water nor food or shelter. set examples out of him don't slap him on the wrist but him in jail, pay a huge fine, community service when he gets out and can't own an animal.
Dustin Warren
4h ago
I could understand if this person just left the dog behind at least it might have been better off, but to tie it up and just leave it like that not able to at least have a chance to get away, is uncalled for. I hope they max your sentence.
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