Florida Man Arrested for Abandoning Dog During Hurricane Milton

A Florida man, Giovanny Aldama Garcia, 23, of Ruskin, was arrested for aggravated animal cruelty after leaving his dog behind during Hurricane Milton, a Category 3 storm that caused significant damage and claimed at least 23 lives in Florida. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the arrest, and State Attorney Suzy Lopez, who is overseeing the prosecution, emphasized the seriousness of the crime.

The incident occurred on October 9, when the Florida Highway Patrol responded to a call about an abandoned dog along a flooded highway. At the time, Hillsborough County was under a state of emergency due to the hurricane, and the area was experiencing heavy rains and flooding. According to the criminal report, the dog was found in a dangerous situation, left to fend for itself in life-threatening conditions. The report noted that Aldama Garcia’s actions caused “excessive unnecessary infliction of pain and suffering” to the dog.

Two days after the incident, Aldama Garcia attempted to reclaim the dog by visiting the Hillsborough County Animal Shelter, where he provided pictures to prove ownership. However, when the shelter contacted him, he expressed willingness to surrender ownership, stating that he would do so if the foster family could provide proper care for the dog. Aldama Garcia completed the necessary paperwork to officially give up the animal.

Following the rescue, the dog, now named Trooper, was moved to Tallahassee and will soon be adopted, according to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. “You don’t just tie up a dog and have them out there for a storm, totally unacceptable, and we’re going to hold you accountable,” DeSantis said in a press briefing.

Aldama Garcia was released on a $2,500 bond. Attempts to reach him for comment were unsuccessful, and online records do not show any attorney information.

Please sign this petition to Demand Accountability for Man Who Left Dogs in Kennels for More Than Two Weeks!

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