A Florida man was arrested Monday and charged with animal cruelty after tying his dog to a fence during the hurricane Milton.
According to the New York Post, Giovanny Aldama Garcia admitted to abandoning his dog during the storm.
The 23-year-old man justified his decision by saying that he “couldn’t find anyone who was able to take care of the dog.”
The animal was, however, rescued by a police officer. The operation also sparked several reactions, after its publication on the social network X.
Hillsborough County Prosecutor Suzy Lopez said the defendant faces a five-year prison sentence.
“In Hillsborough County, we take animal cruelty very seriously,” she said. (…) Honestly, I don’t think the potential sentence is enough. Hopefully, lawmakers will look into this matter and discuss changing the law to allow harsher penalties for people who abandon their pets during a state of emergency.”
