The former owner of a dog found suffering tied to a fence near a highway as Hurricane Milton heads toward Florida left the bull terrier behind when the state was evacuated, authorities said. gave a statement.
Giovani Aldama Garcia was charged with aggravated animal cruelty; State Attorney Susie Lopez Said. The suspect allegedly told investigators that he left his dog, Jumbo, on the side of the road while driving to Georgia to escape the storm because he couldn't find anyone to pick him up.
“Last week, and now during the state of emergency, the reality is that criminals face harsher penalties,” Lopez said in a news release. They will face the music.
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On October 9th, Florida Highway Patrol troopers rescued a dog that was tied to a pole near a highway. (Florida Highway Patrol)
The bull terrier, named Trooper in honor of his rescuer, was spotted on the rainy morning of Oct. 9 along Interstate 75 near Bruce B. Downs Boulevard by Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Morales. (first name not disclosed) was found abandoned.
“He's an animal lover and the father of a rescue dog himself,” Lopez said.
The discovery was made as the storm was pounding the area before making landfall later that night as a Category 3 storm with winds of 190 mph.
Trooper is currently in a foster care facility in Tallahassee, the state capital, and will be put up for adoption. The Leon County Humane Society said it has received hundreds of inquiries about the dog.
Giovani Aldama Garcia is accused of leaving her dog tied to a utility pole as Hurricane Milton headed toward Florida. (Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office)
When discovered, the trooper was standing in a large puddle of water and was repeatedly growling as the trooper approached.
“It's okay, buddy. It's okay,” the officer can be heard saying as the encounter was recorded on his body camera. “I don't blame you. I don't blame you. It's okay, buddy.”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis initially promised that owners would be held accountable.
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The bull terrier, who was rescued by law enforcement and renamed Trooper, is currently resting in a shelter. (Florida Highway Patrol | Leon County Humane Society, via Facebook)
“We are warning you, don’t do that. If you loot, you will be held accountable. If you are doing something that is against the law, if you are trying to take advantage of vulnerable people. , we're going to punish you.'' “We're going to throw a book at you,'' DeSantis said on October 10. “There were some idiots who chained their dogs to poles because the storm was coming. ” he said.
“With Hurricane Milton approaching, I had someone decide that maybe it would be a good idea to take my dog and chain it to a post on the interstate,” he said Tuesday. “At the time, we said, 'We can't just tie up a dog and leave him out there waiting for a storm.'”
The humane organization said Trooper's caregivers are still befriending and caring for the dog after he arrived at the shelter in uneasy condition.
“He is incredibly stressed and remains in a depressed state,” the animal shelter said. “Abandoning a dog in this way usually doesn't bring them back to a happy state right away. Most dogs take a few days before they feel safe in your care, a few weeks before they come out of their shells, and then It takes a few months to get comfortable,” and you fall into a routine. ”
Florida Highway Patrol troopers rescued a dog that was stuck near a highway and tied to a utility pole. (Leon County Humane Society, via Facebook)
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“We have no idea what his life was like before he was abandoned,” the humanitarian organization explained. “Before we consider adoption, we want to know exactly what he needs, so we can make sure he's ready for the next stage of his life and that his future is in his hands. He will be placed in a foster care facility until we are sure he is gentle.”
Fox News Digital's Andrea Margolis contributed to this report.
