#hurricane

GIOVANNY ALDAMA GARCIA arrested for abandoning dog tied to a post during Hurricane Milton evacuation

voiceforus
Oct 16, 2024
4 min read

Updated: Oct 21

- Florida, USA -

~ Update: October 21, 2025:

The charges against GIOVANNY ALDAMA GARCIA (pictured) have been dismissed, and I reached out to Hillsborough County State Attorney Suzy Lopez to find out why.

A response from her office stated the following:

“The case has been dropped because we learned through the deposition process that the dog was not tied up to the fence as was originally thought. Leading up to trial, which was to begin in November, the trooper who bravely rescued the dog during a state of emergency testified that his collar was stuck on the fence, and that no rope or chain was present. That is an important factor in the aggravated animal cruelty charge. It would have been unethical to move forward on those charges without that element present.

People have also asked why our office did not file lesser charges, such as animal abandonment. The defendant in this case never admitted to tying the dog on the fence. In his and his mother’s testimony during the deposition process, he testified that the animal (which was originally named Jumbo), was very scared as they were evacuating in the storm. He testified that the dog was acting aggressively in the car toward his mother, who panicked and stopped on the side of the road to gain control of the situation. They testified that the dog got spooked and ran off. The defendant testified he tried to run after him but lost him. The failure to locate the dog during an emergency evacuation is not a crime. We have no evidence to refute their testimony.

The information we had at the time from the arrest report and 911 call was that the dog was tied to the fence intentionally. Through depositions, we often learn critical details that were not clear at the time of the arrest or initial investigation. When we learned that the dog was not secured to the fence, and there was no rope, tie, or chain present, we could not move forward with the case.

We are grateful that this incident led to positive change with Trooper’s Law, and that Trooper is now in a loving home.”

~ Original story:

The lowlife who abandoned his dog tied to a post as he evacuated to safety during Hurricane Milton has been identified, arrested, and charged.

23-year-old GIOVANNY ALDAMA GARCIA (pictured) was arrested on October 14, 2024, and Hillsborough County State Attorney Suzy Lopez said in a press release that he has been charged with aggravated animal cruelty.

According to the press release, ALDAMA GARCIA admitted to leaving his dog, a white Bull Terrier named Jumbo, on Interstate 75 in Tampa during the evacuation. He told investigators he was driving to Georgia to escape the hurricane but left Jumbo “on the side of the road because he couldn’t find anyone to pick the dog up.”

Jumbo was found and rescued on October 9, 2024, after a driver flagged down Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Orlando Morales who “diligently searched until he saw the dog tied up”, stated the release. Trooper Morales trudged across a soggy field to rescue the Innocent Soul.

Bodycam video posted on X by FHP Tampa showed Trooper Morales approaching Jumbo who was partially submerged in a grassy water pool with his neck tethered to a wire fence. As Trooper Morales approaches Jumbo he tries to reassure him as Jumbo is trembling and understandably terrified and confused. He growls and barks at Trooper Morales who keeps saying: “It’s ok buddy, it’s ok. I don’t blame you. It’s ok.”

Jumbo, now renamed Trooper, is safe and despite social media rumors and speculation, he will NOT be returned to the scum who heartlessly abandoned him!

“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. 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,” said State Attorney Suzy Lopez.

Trooper was taken to the vet and was given a clean bill of health. Trooper was first taken to the Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center and is currently in a foster home in Tallahassee

The Leon County Humane Society said in a Facebook post: “Trooper is in foster care with a wonderful family who has breed experience. In this home he will continue to decompress and enjoy all the good things in life. His foster parents will learn more about him and have his best interests at heart. Fosters have first opportunity to adopt, but if they find that their household isn’t ideal for Trooper, we’ll start looking for the perfect fit based on his foster’s recommendations. We ask that you respect the privacy of our foster families.”

Online arrest records show that ALDAMA GARCIA was released from the Hillsborough County Jail on October 15, 2024, after posting a $2,500 cash bond.

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Voice For Us Disclaimer: Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available. In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.

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ALDAMA GARCIA’s mugshot provided to Voice For Us by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office