Authorities in Florida said Tuesday that a man who was accused of tying his dog to a fence and leaving it behind when Hurricane Milton made landfall in the state was now facing charges of aggravated animal cruelty.
According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles on X, Giovanny Aldama Garcia, 23, of Ruskin, was taken into custody on Monday on felony charges of aggravated animal cruelty.
The allegations against Garcia, who acknowledged abandoning his dog on the highway while he fled the state in preparation for Milton, are being pursued by Thirteenth Circuit State Attorney Suzy Lopez, according to a statement from the state attorney’s office.
“In Hillsborough County, we take animal cruelty very seriously,” Lopez stated. “This defendant is charged with a felony and could face up to five years in prison for his actions.”
According to the jail records of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Garcia was released on bond without a counsel named.
There was no quick response Tuesday evening to an email sent to an address identified as Garcia’s asking for comment, and attempts to contact him via a phone number that was provided as his were unsuccessful. His parents’ phone numbers were not answered.
She hopes politicians “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.” Lopez expressed her opinion that five years in prison is not a sufficient sentence.
According to a statement from Dave Kerner, executive director of the Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Department, the investigation is “active and ongoing,” and no further details are available.
The department is “appreciative of State Attorney Suzy Lopez and her prosecutors’ extraordinary support, especially during a state of emergency,” Kerner continued.
The dog, now named Trooper, was discovered by Florida Highway Patrol troopers on Interstate 75 in Tampa on Wednesday “in flood waters up to his chest” while Floridians were evacuating in preparation for Milton’s arrival, according to Kerner. After being taken to the veterinarian by highway patrol officials, the trooper was declared safe and healthy.
At a press conference with Governor Ron DeSantis on Tuesday, Lopez stated that the trooper knew he was “sure death” when he was discovered.
Garcia told detectives he left his dog behind while traveling to Georgia because he “couldn’t find anyone to pick the dog up,” according to a statement from the state attorney’s office.
After receiving a tip, a trooper located the stray dog on the side of the road. According to the statement, the puppy is safe now and won’t be given back to Garcia.
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In an affidavit, the highway patrol stated that Garcia traveled to the Hillsborough County Animal Shelter on Friday in order to pick up his dog, according to WFLA. The Leon County sheriff’s office received his information and took the dog.
Garcia stated in the affidavit that he would relinquish possession of the dog to its foster owner provided the foster owner would love and care for it.
NBC News: Man accused of leaving dog tied to fence ahead of Hurricane Milton is charged with animal cruelty
