Tampa, FL — The former owner of a dog found tied to a post in floodwaters ahead of Hurricane Milton has been arrested on charges of animal cruelty, Florida officials announced Tuesday. The incident occurred on October 9 as many residents were evacuating due to the approaching storm.
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The dog, discovered chest-deep in rising waters off Interstate 75 in Tampa, was rescued by a state trooper, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) shared a video of the dog, now named Trooper, tied to the post with a plea: “Do NOT do this to your pets please…”
The dog’s former owner, identified as Giovanny Aldama Garcia, 23, of Ruskin, Florida, was arrested on Monday for aggravated animal cruelty, a felony charge, the department confirmed.
“We take this crime very seriously and this defendant will face the consequences of his actions,” said State Attorney Suzy Lopez, whose office is prosecuting the case. Aldama Garcia was released on Tuesday after posting a $2,500 bond, according to online jail records. Attempts to reach him for comment were unsuccessful, and court records did not list attorney information.
The Florida Highway Patrol trooper responded to the scene shortly before 9 a.m. local time on October 9, amid heavy rains and flooding caused by Hurricane Milton. The criminal report affidavit detailed the dangerous conditions in the area, noting Hillsborough County was under a state of emergency at the time.
“Due to the circumstances and the extreme danger and risk of death caused by the defendant to the dog, the defendant’s actions caused excessive, unnecessary infliction of pain and suffering to the dog,” the affidavit stated.
Later that day, Hurricane Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm near Siesta Key, causing widespread devastation across the state. At least 23 deaths in Florida have been linked to the hurricane.
Two days after the rescue, Aldama Garcia visited the Hillsborough County Animal Shelter in an attempt to reclaim the dog, providing photos to prove ownership, according to the affidavit. When contacted by the Leon County Animal Shelter, where the dog was being held, Aldama Garcia indicated he would surrender ownership if the foster family caring for the dog would provide a loving home. He subsequently completed the paperwork to surrender the dog.
In a press briefing on Tuesday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis provided an update on Trooper, who has since been relocated to Tallahassee and will be adopted into a new home.
“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,” DeSantis stated. “We said you’d be held accountable, and you will be held accountable.”