In response to a petition and subsequent lawsuit by conservation and animal protection organizations, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has proposed listing...
In a major victory for animal welfare, Flemish Minister for Animal Welfare, Ben Weyts, announced this week that Flanders, Belgium, will implement a permanent...
U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced a bipartisan bill, the Preventing Future Pandemics Act, which would direct the State Department to...
China has upgraded the national protection status of its native pangolin species, in particular the Chinese Pangolin Manis pentadactyla, to Class I, the highest form...
1. Congratulations to Joaquin Phoenix for winning Best Actor at the Oscars for his outstanding performance in the Joker.
Joaquin gave an inspirational speech using...
A 23-year-old man has been charged with aggravated animal cruelty, a third-degree felony, after footage of his abandoned dog went viral just before Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida.
Giovanny Aldama Garcia, from Ruskin in Hillsborough County, faces up to five years in prison after Florida Highway Patrol troopers rescued his dog, a male bull terrier, on October 9th.
The dog, now named Trooper, was discovered tethered to a fence in the rain along Interstate 75 in Tampa before the devastating hurricane hit. Garcia told investigators that he fled to Georgia to escape the storm and left the dog behind because he couldn’t find anyone to care for him.
The viral video, which has garnered over 11 million views, shows Trooper with about a third of his body submerged in rising floodwaters. Florida State Trooper Orlando Morales, who rescued the dog, received a tip from a driver and searched diligently until he found the animal. By the time Morales reached the dog, water had risen to the animal’s neck, with Hurricane Milton fast approaching. Fortunately, Trooper is now safe and in foster care.
Hillsborough County State Attorney Suzy Lopez with Trooper Orlando Morales who rescued the dog, now named “Trooper.”
Shockingly, the defendant reportedly went to the Hillsborough County animal shelter and showed pictures of his dog in an effort to reclaim ownership.
“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 will take a look at this case and consider changing the law to allow for harsher penalties for people who abandon their animals during a state of emergency,” said State Attorney Suzy Lopez.
Photo by: Leon County Humane Society
Trooper is currently under the care of the Leon County Humane Society, which was contacted by the governor’s office. Since taking him in, the organization has received numerous adoption inquiries. However, for now, their primary focus is on helping Trooper feel safe in his new environment.
Garcia was released after posting bail through a bond company, according to Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office records.
You can help all animals and our planet by choosing compassion on your plate and in your glass. #GoVeg
In response to a petition and subsequent lawsuit by conservation and animal protection organizations, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has proposed listing...
In a letter on Tuesday, the Biden administration defended the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services for killing eight wolf pups from Idaho’s Timberline...
California state officials have released a final rule to reduce the risk of endangered whale and sea turtle entanglement in commercial Dungeness crab gear. The new regulations, which...
More than 60 conservation groups from across North America filed letters today urging the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to immediately...
