John Jefferson
Left: Giovanni Aldama Garcia (Hillsborough County Jail). Right: Trooper AKA Jumbo who was allegedly tied to fence ahead of Hurricane Milton (Florida Highway Patrol).
Florida cops filed charges against the owner of the dog whose pleading face went viral after officials found the poor pup tied to a fence along a Tampa highway “in severe distress and trembling” as the rising waters from Hurricane Milton reached his neck.
Giovanni Aldama Garcia, 23, is facing a charge of aggravated animal cruelty. The video posted by Florida Highway Patrol went viral as people responded to the decision to leave a dog on the side of the road as a hurricane descended upon the Sunshine State.
On Tuesday, Hillsborough County Prosecutor Suzy Lopez announced Aldama Garcia’s arrest. He faces up to five years in prison if convicted.
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“Quite frankly, I don’t think that is enough. Hopefully, lawmakers take a look at this case and discuss changing the law to allow for harsher penalties for people who abandon their animals during a state of emergency,” she said in a statement.
A woman driving north on I-75 near mile marker 270 in the Tampa area around 8:45 a.m. Oct. 9 spotted the dog tied to a post near the shoulder and called FHP, a probable cause arrest affidavit said. A trooper responded and found the dog.
“The dog was standing water up to his chest and neck area, appearing to be in severe distress and trembling,” the trooper wrote.
He noted that there were fresh tire marks nearby. The trooper took the dog to an animal shelter for treatment.
Days later, at around 12:43 p.m. on Oct. 11, Aldama Garcia allegedly showed up to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office to retrieve the dog.
“The defendant told investigators 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,” prosecutors said.
After receiving his Miranda warnings, Aldama Garcia claimed he “could not deal with the dog” and had been trying to get someone to adopt the dog the last few weeks to no avail. He and his mother were evacuating the area ahead of the hurricane when he had her pull the car over and let Jumbo out of the car.
“The Defendant stated he observed the dog in standing water in heavy rain during a Hurricane evacuation and left him behind,” troopers wrote.
Aldama Garcia allegedly said after seeing pictures of his dog online, he decided to return to the area and try to pick him up. Troopers showed him the video posted online of them rescuing the dog.
During the interview, he “failed to express emotions about finding a dog he cared for and continued stating they wanted someone else to give the dog a better life.”
The dog, now named Trooper, continues to receive care at an animal rescue and is being put up for adoption.
“[T]he dog is safe and will not be returned to the defendant,” Lopez noted in her statement announcing the arrest.
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