It had been in October 2024, just prior to Hurricane Milton approaching Wesley Chapel, when Florida Highway Patrol troopers rescued a dog tied up on the side of Interstate 75 standing in water up to his chest. According to video posted on TikTok by Nbc News, the trooper slowly approached the dog who growled and barked at the officer.
Officers were able to calm the dog down and brought him to a veterinarian where he was examined and released. The dog, renamed Trooper, was taken to the Leon County Humane Society in Tallahassee, Florida.
Florida officials were able to locate and arrest the alleged owner, identified as Giovanny Aldama Garcia, 23, who told authorities he had gone to the wrong animal shelter to reclaim his dog. Garcia surrendered the dog, however he faces a felony aggravated animal cruelty charge which, if found guilty, could result in five years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
Trooper has since been adopted by a family in South Florida; the dog underwent surgery in December to remove two cancerous tumors from his left side. Last month, Trooper suffered another set back after x-rays showed a foreign substance in the dog’s stomach after he vomited a small piece of rubber.
Surgeons operated on the dog last week using an endoscope and removed a pound of plastic and rubber from the dog’s stomach. His new family believe Garcia had not been feeding Trooper, and the dog ate whatever he could find to stave off his intense hunger.
Social media Trooper update:
Last Wednesday Trooper threw up a piece of rubber and after a trip to the vet it was determined he needed endoscopy surgery which lasted 4 and 1/2 hours.
2 pounds of garbage was removed from his stomach!
His former owner Giovanny Aldama Garcia was starving the poor dog before he tied Trooper to the fence.
Garcia is awaiting his trial in Florida.
At a hearing on Thursday, the next court appearance is scheduled for March 31 where he would be represented by his attorney.
A bill was introduced to the Florida legislation that would make it a felony to leave an animal during a natural disaster which is long overdue. The bill is called “Troopers Law”.
Read previous coverage here.
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