Owner of abandoned dog “Trooper” faces felony animal cruelty charges after leaving dog tied to fence during Hurricane.
The owner of a dog named “Trooper,” who was abandoned during Hurricane Milton, has been identified and is facing charges of aggravated animal cruelty. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced the development at a press conference, condemning the owner’s actions as “completely unacceptable” and assuring the public that the individual would be held accountable.
Trooper, a Bull Terrier, was discovered by a Florida Highway Patrol officer tied to a fence and submerged up to his belly in standing water along Interstate 75. The incident was captured on video and quickly went viral, sparking outrage on social media.
Hillsborough County State Attorney Suzy Lopez revealed that the owner, Giovanny Aldama Garcia, faces up to five years in prison for the third-degree felony. Lopez stressed that animal cruelty would not be tolerated in the county, stating, “We take animal cruelty extremely seriously… No one gets away with what this man did in Hillsborough County, not on my watch.”
Garcia admitted to abandoning his dog, whom he called “Jumbo,” while fleeing from the hurricane on a trip from Tampa to Georgia. The dog is now under the care of the Leon County Humane Society and will not be returned to Garcia.