Florida Man Cleared in Hurricane Milton Dog Abandonment Case Amid New Animal Welfare Law

Giovanny Aldama Garcia was accused of abandoning his dog, Trooper, tied to a fence during the evacuation ahead of Hurricane Milton in Florida in October 2024, but the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office dropped all animal cruelty charges due to insufficient evidence that he intentionally tied the dog in rising floodwaters. Video footage showed Trooper standing in chest-deep water, sparking public outrage and leading to legislative action with the passing of "Trooper’s Law," which criminalizes restraining or abandoning dogs outdoors during natural disasters with penalties up to five years in prison and fines up to $10,000. Garcia claimed he left Trooper behind because he could not find anyone to take care of the dog during the emergency evacuation. Trooper was rescued by Florida Highway Patrol and later adopted by a loving family, illustrating the dog's recovery after the incident. Despite the emotional response and ethical questions raised by the case, prosecutors emphasized the lack of clear evidence tying Garcia to the intentional abandonment or use of a rope to restrain Trooper. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the new law in response to this case, aiming to prevent similar incidents in future natural disasters.