Giovanny Aldama Garcia, a Florida man, was charged with aggravated animal cruelty for allegedly abandoning his dog tied to a fence as Hurricane Milton approached the state. State attorney Suzy Lopez is pursuing the charges, stating that animal cruelty is taken very seriously in Hillsborough County. Garcia admitted to leaving his dog on the highway as he evacuated the state. He faces up to five years in prison for his actions. The dog, now known as Trooper, was found in flood waters up to his chest on Interstate-75 and was marked safe and healthy after being taken to a vet by Florida Highway Patrol officers. Garcia tried to claim his dog at the Hillsborough County Animal Shelter, but the dog will not be returned to him. Officials are calling for harsher penalties for those who abandon their animals during a state of emergency. The investigation is ongoing, and Garcia was released on bond. Calls to his parents and attempts to reach him for comment were unsuccessful. Lopez hopes lawmakers will consider changing the law to allow harsher penalties for such acts of cruelty. Trooper was facing “sure death” before being rescued by FHP officers.
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