10 Tampa Bay | Owner of dog left tied to fence on I-75 ahead of Milton charged with animal cruelty @10TampaBay | Uploaded October 2024 | Updated October 2024, 7 hours ago.
A man is facing an aggravated animal cruelty charge after he admitted to leaving his dog tied to a fence on I-75 as he evacuated before Hurricane Milton, the state attorney's office announced.
On Tuesday, representatives for State Attorney Suzy Lopez identified the dog's owner as 23-year-old Giovanny Garcia of Ruskin.
Investigators say Garcia told them that he left his dog, formerly named "Jumbo," on the side of the road because he couldn't find anyone to pick the dog up.
The state attorney's office says Trooper Orlando Morales received a tip from a driver around 8:45 a.m. on Oct. 9 about the dog on the side of I-75, just south of Bruce B Downs Boulevard. Morales found the dog as water was rising up around the animal's neck.
"As I continued calling for the dog through my portable speaker, I saw the dog's head pop up and then back down," Morales' report reads. "The dog was standing in water up to his chest and neck area, appearing to be in severe distress and trembling."
MORE: wtsp.com/article/news/crime/dog-tied-fence-i-75-hurricane-milton-animal-cruelty-owner-charged/67-f0270b3f-d988-4568-b40f-8d548b3c05e0
A man is facing an aggravated animal cruelty charge after he admitted to leaving his dog tied to a fence on I-75 as he evacuated before Hurricane Milton, the state attorney's office announced.
On Tuesday, representatives for State Attorney Suzy Lopez identified the dog's owner as 23-year-old Giovanny Garcia of Ruskin.
Investigators say Garcia told them that he left his dog, formerly named "Jumbo," on the side of the road because he couldn't find anyone to pick the dog up.
The state attorney's office says Trooper Orlando Morales received a tip from a driver around 8:45 a.m. on Oct. 9 about the dog on the side of I-75, just south of Bruce B Downs Boulevard. Morales found the dog as water was rising up around the animal's neck.
"As I continued calling for the dog through my portable speaker, I saw the dog's head pop up and then back down," Morales' report reads. "The dog was standing in water up to his chest and neck area, appearing to be in severe distress and trembling."
MORE: wtsp.com/article/news/crime/dog-tied-fence-i-75-hurricane-milton-animal-cruelty-owner-charged/67-f0270b3f-d988-4568-b40f-8d548b3c05e0
