Florida law enforcement officials arrested a 23-year-old man this week for allegedly tying up his dog on the side of the road while evacuating the state during Hurricane Milton.
Giovanny Aldama Garcia was arrested Monday on felonious aggravated animal cruelty charges after he allegedly abandoned the white bull terrier on Interstate 75 in Tampa as he traveled to Georgia.
Hillsborough County State Attorney Suzy Lopez said that Garcia told law enforcement he abandoned the dog because he “couldn’t find anyone to pick the dog up.”
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Law enforcement officials said that the criminal investigation was still active and ongoing.
News of the dog’s abandonment went viral on social media last Wednesday when the Florida Highway Patrol released a video of the dog tied up to a fence post standing in water.
“FHP Troopers rescued a dog left tied to a pole on I-75 near Bruce B Downs Blvd this morning,” the post said. “Do NOT do this to your pets please…”
FHP Troopers rescued a dog left tied to a pole on I-75 near Bruce B Downs Blvd this morning. Do NOT do this to your pets please… pic.twitter.com/8cZJOfkJL2
— FHP Tampa (@FHPTampa) October 9, 2024
Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis addressed the matter at a press conference on Tuesday evening, saying that Garcia would be held accountable.
The governor said that the dog has been renamed “Trooper” and is now being placed up for adoption at an animal shelter in Tallahassee.
DeSantis said that the dog was “very rattled from that experience” and that the entire ordeal was “totally unacceptable.”
“I’m proud to announce that the authorities have identified the dog’s former owners, and state Attorney Susie Lopez, is now pursuing animal cruelty charges against the individual,” he said. “So we said you’d be held accountable, and you will be held accountable.”
Garcia faces up to five years in prison if convicted.
He was released on a $2,500 cash bond.
“We said you’d be held accountable, and you will be held accountable.”
–@GovRonDeSantis, announcing that authorities ID’d the former owner of the dog rescued by FHP before Milton.
FHP arrested the suspect on felony animal cruelty, and @SuzyLopezSA will be handling the case. pic.twitter.com/yBouiM5x9R
— Jeremy Redfern (@JeremyRedfernFL) October 15, 2024
