The former owner of a dog found tied to a post and stranded in floodwaters ahead of Hurricane Milton has been identified, Florida officials announced Tuesday.
The dog, now known as Trooper, was rescued on Oct. 9 by a state trooper who found the animal submerged up to its chest in floodwaters during an evacuation of the area hours ahead of Hurricane Milton's arrival. The Florida Highway Patrol shared a video of the abandoned dog on social media, captioned, "Do NOT do this to your pets please..."
Giovanny Aldama Garcia, 23, of Ruskin, Florida, has been arrested and charged with aggravated animal cruelty, a felony, for leaving the dog tied up in dangerous conditions. He is currently out on a $2,500 cash bond.
State Attorney Suzy Lopez, overseeing the case, emphasized the seriousness of the crime. "We take this crime very seriously and this defendant will face the consequences of his actions," ABC reported.
Days after Hurricane Milton, Aldama Garcia attempted to reclaim the dog, then told Leon County Animal Shelter that "if the current foster will take good care and love the dog, he will surrender ownership," according to the affidavit.
"We said at the time, you don't just tie up a dog and have them out there for a storm," Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a press briefing. "We said you'd be held accountable, and you will be held accountable."
DeSantis confirmed that Trooper is in Tallahassee and his adoption is in process.
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