We’ve seen some bad behavior lately, like the psychopath Ravens fan who sucker punched supporters of the Washington Commanders or the sadistic antics of the blood-thirsty Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang in Aurora, Colorado, but who ties a dog to a fence and leaves him there to die as floodwaters rise due to a monster hurricane?

Twenty-three-year-old Giovanny Aldama Garcia, that’s who, at least according to Florida authorities. They nabbed the suspect Monday and charged him with third-degree felony aggravated animal cruelty. Throw the book at him, people! 

Look at this poor guy (the dog, not the creep):

Giovanny Aldama Garcia - the dirtbag who left his dog chained to a fence while he fled to safety during Hurricane Milton has been arrested & charged with aggravated animal cruelty -a felony! pic.twitter.com/c9306d2G1R

— The Conservative Read (@theconread) October 16, 2024

There’s good news to share, however—Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Orlando Morales spotted the situation and bravely went to rescue the scared pooch. The trooper was lucky he wasn't bitten because the poor white bull terrier was clearly agitated. 

But the doggie was successfully rescued and taken to the Leon County Humane Society where they were honored to have him and renamed him “Trooper” (he had been named "Jumbo").

“His name is Trooper, because of how much he’s been through and to honor those who saved him,” the Society said.

Must watch:

FHP Troopers rescued a dog left tied to a pole on I-75 near Bruce B Downs Blvd this morning. Do NOT do this to your pets please… pic.twitter.com/8cZJOfkJL2

— FHP Tampa (@FHPTampa) October 9, 2024

Governor Ron DeSantis announced the arrest at a Tuesday press conference:

🦸‍♂️NOT ALL HEROS WERE CAPES! Thank you @RonDeSantis
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Trooper’s former owner, Giovanny Aldama Garcia, will be charged with aggravated animal cruelty charges for abandoning his dog as he fled to safety before Milton.@dom_lucre pic.twitter.com/tPNckStTcs

— Steve Gruber (@stevegrubershow) October 15, 2024

“When this poor dog was left out there,” DeSantis said, “we said … we’re going to nail you when we find out who did it. And that’s exactly what they’re doing here in Hillsborough County with State Attorney Lopez.”

And now the governor is going to make good on his word:

“We had somebody decide, as Hurricane Milton approached, that it would somehow be a good thing to take his dog and chain it to a post on the interstate,” DeSantis said during a press conference at the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

The governor called the former owners’ actions “totally unacceptable...”

In a release, Lopez’s office named the dog’s owner as Giovanny Garcia and said he was charged with aggravated animal cruelty after he admitted to leaving his dog on Interstate 75 when he was evacuating from Milton. Garcia told authorities that he left his dog, formerly named Jumbo, because he couldn’t find anyone to pick it up.

“We said you’d be held accountable, and you will be held accountable,” DeSantis said.

There's a special place in hell for those who treat animals with cruelty. As one of my colleagues pointed out, many serial killers get their start torturing animals. There are a few penalties for this guy that come to mind, but since we're a family-friendly operation, I'll resist sharing them here.

One thing is for sure, though—he picked the wrong state to do it in. 

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