As Hurricane Milton made its way toward the Sunshine State last week, prompting widespread evacuations, one man fleeing the storm decided to tie his dog to a fence along a Florida highway because he claims he couldn’t find anyone to pick the animal up. After receiving a tip about the distressed canine, a trooper with the state’s Highway Patrol, Orlando Morales, searched and searched until he found it. Morales took a video of his rescue of the frightened dog, water already up to his belly, which quickly went viral.
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
Now, Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced justice will be served.
"We said you'd be held accountable, and you will be held accountable," he said during a press conference.
"We said you'd be held accountable, and you will be held accountable."
— Jeremy Redfern (@JeremyRedfernFL) October 15, 2024
-@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
“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.
— FLHSMV (@FLHSMV) October 15, 2024
Based upon a subsequent criminal investigation, State Troopers secured and… pic.twitter.com/br0jHNXeVY
This guy has been arrested and charged for tying his dog to a fence post along I-75 as Hurricane Milton approached Florida.
— Gage Goulding - KPRC 2 (@GageGoulding) October 15, 2024
Giovanny Aldama Garcia told investigators he heft his dog “Jumbo” because no one would pick him up. @FHPTampa troopers rescued the dog, who’s now safe. pic.twitter.com/Yo6fPkhgcI
State Attorney Suzy Lopez charged the owner, Giovanny Aldama Garcia, with aggravated animal cruelty.
“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.”
Thank you to @FHPTampa Trooper Morales for rescuing Trooper the dog during #HurricaneMilton. He’s an animal lover and father to a rescue dog himself. Thank you for your dedication to all of our residents- including the four-legged ones. pic.twitter.com/8dfgwdXZGE
— State Attorney Suzy Lopez (@SuzyLopezSA) October 15, 2024
The dog, which has been renamed "Trooper," is in the care of the Leon County Humane Society, which said the canine needs time in foster care to decompress before they can "match him with the best fit possible so that he has the best transition into his forever home."