Florida man Giovanny Garcia accused of tying up, abandoning dog during Hurricane Milton cleared of charges — sparking outrage

The Florida man accused of tying his dog to a fence while fleeing the state to avoid the wrath of Hurricane Milton had his animal cruelty charges dropped by prosecutors, sparking outrage from the community that rescued the pooch.

Giovanny Aldama Garcia’s third-degree felony charge was thrown out when Hillsborough County State Attorney Suzy Lopez’s office did not have sufficient evidence to verify the dog owner was responsible for tying up the bull terrier pup to a fence on the side of I-75

Footage from the Florida Highway Patrol captured the dog, later named Trooper, barking desperately for help as he stood in stomach-deep water while the Category 3 storm dumped heavy rain in the area on October 9, 2024.

“The facts as depicted in the video and the statements do not support the theory that the dog was attached to the fence in an intentional manner,” Lopez’s office wrote in a memo viewed by WUFT. “A failure to locate the dog during an emergency evacuation does not equate to a criminal failure to act.”

Garcia claimed he couldn’t rescue the pooch before racing out of the state to avoid the deadly storm.

The then-23-year-old told officials he left his dog, Jumbo, because he “couldn’t find anyone to pick the dog up,” Lopez revealed at the time.

Garcia would’ve faced up to five years in prison if he had been found guilty of animal abuse.

Trooper was rescued by Highway Patrol Trooper Orlando Morales and brought to the Leon County Humane Society, where he was evaluated and set up for adoption.

Lisa Glunt, the director of the Tallahassee-based animal rescue organization, was left in dismay over the decision by Lopez’s office.

“I was disappointed and shocked,” Glunt told WCTV. “We really thought this was going to be taken seriously and seen through thoroughly, considering the State of Florida now has a law in place, Trooper’s Law, that was brought on by this dog and this incident. It’s definitely upsetting.”

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Florida Senate Bill 150, aptly named Trooper’s Law, in May, making it a felony to restrain and abandon a dog during mandatory or voluntary evacuation from a declared natural disaster.

“Across Florida, we have seen horrifying instances of animal cruelty that demand a stronger response,” DeSantis said. “I was proud to sign Trooper’s Law and Dexter’s Law today. Florida stands by man’s best friend.”

Dexter’s Law strengthens penalties for aggravated animal cruelty and ensures that offenders face appropriate criminal penalties.

Trooper’s Law went into effect across the state this month.

“The message was do not do this,” Glunt said. “Animals are for keeps. You don’t abandon them and especially in times of emergency, and I think it sends a poor precedent when the very dog who a law has been named after has been relieved of justice.”

Trooper was adopted by a loving family, Frank and Karla Spina, who also fumed over the prosecutor’s decision.

“Well, did he tie himself? Did Trooper tie himself? Put it in front of a jury and ask ‘Do you believe Trooper the dog tied himself to a pole?,’” Frank Spina told WUFT.

“We all got this law passed, and for what?” Spina added. “Just for the prosecutor’s office to throw in the towel and say, ‘Oh, well, he had a language barrier, and we can’t prove that he tied him to a fence.’ I’m really disgusted.”

A vet diagnosed the pooch with cancer and removed several masses from the dog shortly after his rescue.

It was also revealed that Trooper had ingested a 2-pound freezer bag full of approximately 120 pieces of garbage, including metal and plastic.

“Could you imagine how starved he had to be to ingest a piece of metal or, or pieces of rubber that are the size of quarters?” Frank told CBS News.