You may have heard the story of Trooper, the sweet dog who was left tied up to a pole in Florida head of Hurricane Milton, who would’ve likely died if he wasn’t rescued in time.

The story broke many people’s hearts, but a new update to the story gives us some good news: the dog’s owner has been charged with animal cruelty.

Trooper’s story

On the morning of October 9, Florida Highway Patrol troopers in Tampa rescued a dog who was found tied to a pole on I-75 near Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

The dog, now known as Trooper, was tied up by his collar, left standing with his legs submerged in water. As the troopers approached, the dog growled at them, understandably frightened.

“I don’t blame you,” one of the troopers reassures the dog. “It’s okay, buddy.”

All of this was happening on the eve of Hurricane Milton, which wreaked havoc on the area, causing mass damage, flooding and power outages throughout Florida. It’s clear that Trooper wouldn’t have stood a chance if he wasn’t found in time.

At the time, it wasn’t clear where Trooper came from or who left him there, though many locals and officials, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, vowed to investigate the case and prosecute the person responsible.

Owner arrested, charged with felony

Days later, justice prevailed as State Attorney Susan Lopez announced the culprit had been found, and is now facing charges of aggravated animal cruelty.

The owner was identified as 23-year-old Giovanny Aldama Garcia, who told police that he abandoned the dog, who he called “Jumbo,” while evacuating to Georgia because he “couldn’t find anyone to pick the dog up,” according to WFLA.

State troopers executed an arrest warrant after an investigation. Aggravated animal cruelty is a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison.

Police arrested the man who left his dog tied to a pole along the highway during Hurricane Milton.
Giovanny Aldama Garcia will be charged with aggravated animal cruelty.
Investigators say he abandoned his dog “Jumbo” because he “couldn’t find anyone to pick the dog up.” https://t.co/bamSWp4Gai pic.twitter.com/4VaYGRkMze

— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) October 15, 2024

“In Hillsborough County, we take animal cruelty very seriously,” State Attorney Lopez said in a statement. “This defendant is charged with a felony and could face up to five years in prison for his actions. 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.”

According to the affidavit, Garcia said he was willing to surrender Trooper to his current foster.

New life for Trooper

As his new owner faces jail time, Trooper is in safe hands and looking forward to a great new life.

The dog formerly known as Jumbo got his new name in honor of the troopers who saved his life. He was given a clean bill of health and placed in the care of the Leon County Humane Society in Tallahassee.

After his heartbreaking abandonment, Trooper is recuperating in a foster home.

“He’s incredibly stressed and still decompressing,” the Humane Society wrote. “Abandoning a dog like this doesn’t typically allow for an immediate bounce back to their happy selves. Most dogs when rescued take a few days to feel safe, a few weeks to come out of their shell, and a few months to become comfortable and fall into a routine.”

They wrote that Trooper is not up for adoption, despite many inquiries, but will update if and when he is ready for a new forever home.

“We want to be sure that we know exactly what he needs before even considering adoption, so he’ll be in foster care until we feel confident he’s ready for the next phase of life, and that his future will be kind to him.”

But in the meantime, Trooper is resting easy in his foster home — he’ll never be abandoned again ❤️

It’s unbelievable that anyone would leave their dog for dead like this ahead of a massive hurricane, but we’re so glad Trooper is doing well and his former owner is facing felony charges.

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