Florida Man Arrested for Abandoning Dog in Floodwaters Before Hurricane

Giovanny Aldama Garcia faces aggravated animal cruelty charges after leaving his dog tied to a fence as Hurricane Milton approached.

Giovanny Aldama Garcia, 23, was arrested and charged with felony aggravated animal cruelty for leaving his dog, Jumbo, tied to a fence in chest-deep floodwaters.
The dog, now renamed Trooper, was rescued by Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Orlando Morales and has since been placed in foster care in Tallahassee.
Garcia admitted to abandoning the dog while evacuating to Georgia, claiming he could not find anyone to care for the animal during the storm.
State Attorney Suzy Lopez, who is prosecuting the case, has called for harsher penalties for animal abandonment during emergencies, as current law allows for up to five years in prison.
The case has drawn widespread attention, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis condemning the act as 'totally unacceptable' and emphasizing accountability for such actions.