Arrest made in viral video of dog abandoned, tied to fence during Hurricane Milton

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — A 23-year-old Ruskin man is facing animal cruelty charges for what he’s accused of doing to a dog during Hurricane Milton. The dog was seen by millions in a viral video on social media after it was tied to a fence in rising flood waters on October 9 in Hillsborough County.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the arrest of the man during a news conference Tuesday. “You don‘t just tie up a dog and have them out there for a storm,” he said. “Totally unacceptable and we’re going to hold you accountable.”

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On Tuesday, State Attorney Suzy Lopez announced that Giovanny Aldama Garcia has been charged with aggravated animal cruelty, a third-degree felony, according to Fox 13 Tampa Bay. Garcia admitted to leaving his dog on Interstate 75 as he evacuated to safety during Hurricane Milton, investigators said. Aldama Garcia told investigators that he was driving to Georgia to escape the hurricane but left his dog “Jumbo” on the side of the road because he couldn’t find anyone to pick the dog up, the article states.

The dog was rescued by a Florida Highway Patrol trooper. The dog, now named Trooper after his rescuer, is healthy and awaiting adoption at a Leon County animal hospital.

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