According to recent reports, Florida authorities have arrested a 23-year-old man who allegedly tied his dog to the side of the road while evacuating from Hurricane Milton. Giovanny Aldama Garcia was arrested on Monday and charged with felonious aggravated animal cruelty after allegedly abandoning his white bull terrier off of Interstate 75 in Tampa.
Reportedly, Garcia abandoned the dog as he “couldn’t find anyone to pick the dog up.” Video had gone viral on social media, showing the dog being abandoned on the side of the road, tied to a fence in a pool of water that reached the animal’s torso. Florida Highway Patrol shared a video to X, which read, “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…”
The Florida Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) shared an update on X that the dog had been brought to safety. “Update: The dog rescued by @FHPTampa is safe and receiving care. Troopers brought him to a vet, where he was examined for injuries and received a clean bill of health,” the post read, including a picture of the white bull terrier smiling in the back of a patrol car.
Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis addressed the matter at a press conference earlier this week, maintaining that Garcia would be held accountable for the treatment of the dog. Describing the incident, Trump said, “We had somebody decide, as Hurricane Milton approached, that it would somehow be a good thing to take his dog and chain it to a post on the interstate.”
“Well, we had a Florida Highway Patrol with us here today that saw that that dog in distress. Dog was very rattled from that experience, rescued the dog. The dog’s now in Tallahassee. It will be adopted, renamed trooper. But we said at the time, 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,” the governor continued.
Emphasizing that the owners of the dog would be held accountable, DeSantis continued, “I’m proud to announce that the authorities have identified the dog’s former owners, and state Attorney Susie Lopez, is now pursuing animal cruelty charges against the individual. So we said you’d be held accountable, and you will be held accountable.”
Users on social media reacted with joy that the innocent animal was saved. “God bless you for saving this poor sweet dog. The trooper in the video should be commended for his kindness, compassion and understanding. I’m so happy that you cared enough to help this dog. I hope he finds the best home possible. This is how it’s done,” one person wrote in the comments
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Watch the video of “Trooper’s” rescue below:
“Looks like a pure bred bull terrier. I will never understand how anyone could leave their dogs out like this, just evil, and they don’t deserve dogs! He is sure to find a new loving home now because of you guys! Thank you for helping this cute buddy!” another person wrote.
Note: The featured image is a screenshot from the embedded video.