Florida man arrested after dog tied to post ahead of Hurricane Milton landfall
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY -- A man was arrested after Florida Highway Patrol officials found a dog tied to a pole one day before Hurricane Milton was expected to make landfall.
Giovanny Garcia, 23, is facing an aggravated animal cruelty charge after an arrest Monday.
Authorities say he left his dog tied up off Interstate 75 in Tampa as many residents were evacuating ahead of the hurricane. In video, you can see the dog stuck to the post with water above its legs.
The dog, was found alive last Wednesday in floodwaters up to his chest.
A trooper, who located the dog based on a description from a witness driving by, described him as "in severe distress and trembling," according to a redacted criminal report.
"Traffic was heavy as many people were evacuating," the trooper wrote in the arrest report. "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."
Troopers brought him to a vet, where he was examined for injuries and received a clean bill of health.
The dog nicknamed Trooper by FHP.
Garcia two days later went to the Hillsborough County animal shelter to try to retrieve the dog and showed pictures as proof of ownership, according to the arrest documents,
The owner agreed to give up the dog to the foster family provided "they would take good care and love the dog," the arrest report said.
"We take this crime very seriously and this defendant will face the consequences of his actions," said State Attorney Suzy Lopez, whose jurisdiction covers the Tampa area.
The incident got Florida's Gov. Ron DeSantis's attention.
"When this poor dog was left out there, we said there would be justice for that and that we're going to nail you when we find out exactly who did it. That's exactly what they're doing in Hillsborough County," DeSantis said.