Trooper’s Law, inspired by a Bull Terrier who was abandoned and tied to a pole during Hurricane Milton evacuations last October, unanimously passed 39-0 in the Florida Senate on Wednesday.
Sen. Don Gaetz (R-Sponsored) sponsored the bill (SB 150) in the Senate. Rep. Philip Wayne "Griff" Griffitts, Jr. (R-Panama City) filed a House version (HB 205).
Trooper's Law would create a new offense of animal neglect for abandoning a restrained dog outside during a natural disaster, such as a hurricane, tropical storm, or tornado. The penalty for an offense would be a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison and/or a fine of as much as $10,000.
The Bull Terrier, later named Trooper, was found scared and growling by Tampa Florida Highway Patrol troopers in belly-high water along Interstate 75. A man, Giovanny Aldama Garcia, was later identified and arrested for the dog's abandonment.
Aldama Garcia was later charged with aggravated animal cruelty, which is a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
The incident received statewide attention and strong criticism from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at the time.
"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. Well, we had Florida Highway Patrol with us hear today that saw that dog in distress," DeSantis said. Dog was very rattled from that experience, rescued the dog. The dog's now in Tallahassee, will be adopted, renamed Trooper."
Trooper's law passed without discussion from Sen. Gaetz or other members of the Senate. The Florida Legislature also has several other bills related to animal cruelty under consideration.
HB 205 has yet to pass in the House. If fully passed by the Florida Legislature, the bill would take effect on Oct. 1.
