A man has been charged with aggravated animal cruelty after allegedly tying his dog to a pole near a major highway during Hurricane Milton as it hit Florida. In a heartbreaking video, a white puppy with black ears was seen terrified and growling while standing in water up to its chest, until police arrived and rescued the pet.
State Attorney Suzy Lopez confirmed that the dog’s former owner has been identified as Giovanny Garcia. Garcia admitted that he abandoned his dog, whom he named Jumbo, on I-75 while evacuating to Georgia because he couldn’t find anyone to take care of the puppy during the deadly Hurricane Milton, according to WWSB.
Sheer Cruelty to an Innocent Animal
“In Hillsborough County, we take animal cruelty very seriously. This defendant is charged with a felony and could face up to five years in prison for his actions,” Lopez said.
“Quite frankly, I don’t think that is enough. Hopefully, lawmakers …