Latest news with #LeonCountyHumaneSociety
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Trooper's tale: From being Tallahassee rescue dog to inspiring Florida law
Florida is protecting its pooches — and cracking down on those who mistreat the four-legged friends. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two animal rights bills on May 28 at a rescue organization in Palm Beach County. The bills include Trooper's Law, which will make it a crime to restrain animals outside during natural disasters and abandon them. It's named after the bull terrier that captured the attention of people around the state when he was found in chest-high water, tied to a fence off of Interstate 75 during Hurricane Milton. His story got a happy ending when he was adopted by a Parkland couple after being taken to the Leon County Humane Society. The offense would be a third-degree felony, punishable by a fine up to $10,000 or prison time. And he signed Dexter's Law, would require the Department of Law Enforcement to post the names of people who have violated animal cruelty laws online. It's named after a dog found decapitated at Fort DeSoto Beach days after he was adopted from the Pinellas County Animal Shelter, according to NBC affiliate WFLA. DeSantis signed these pieces of legislation at Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Loxahatchee. Florida state trooper Orlando Morales rescued the bull terrier after the pooch was abandoned tied to a pole on I-75 as Hurricane Milton approached Florida. The bills include Trooper's Law, which will make it a crime to restrain animals outside during natural disasters and then abandon them. Trooper was rescued by a Florida state trooper on the side of I-75 near Bruce B Downs Blvd. on the morning of Oct. 9, 2024. Hurricane Milton made landfall on Florida's west coast around 8:30 p.m. that night. Giovanny Aldama Garcia, 23, was identified as the owner of "Trooper," the abandoned dog left tied to a fence standing in a pool of water amid Hurricane Milton evacuations in Florida. Garcia was arrested on Oct. 14, 2024. The following day, State Attorney Suzy Lopez shared in a press release that Garcia was charged with aggravated animal cruelty, after admitting to leaving his dog, formerly known as "Jumbo," on the interstate because he "couldn't find anyone to pick the dog up." He faces up to five years in prison. His case status was unavailable as of May 28. The five-year-old Bull terrier was taken in by the Leon County Humane Society on Oct. 9. Trooper then was placed in a foster care home with owners who had experience with his breed, according to the Leon County Humane Society. In December, Trooper was adopted by Frank and Carla Spina and now lives with new friend Dallas, a seven-year-old mini Bull terrier, in Parkland. Trooper faced multiple health scares, however, and his new family supported him as he underwent successful surgery to remove cancerous tumors. X-rays also found foreign substances inside his stomach. Trooper had about two pounds of rubber and plastic removed, according to specialist veterinary surgeon Randy Dominguez. The Animal Rights Foundation of Florida urges you to call 911 if you witness an animal in a life-threatening situation. It is a crime to abuse or cruelly kill an animal, or to confine an animal without sufficient food, water or exercise in Florida. To report the abuse of wild animals such as illegal hunting or fishing, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at (888) 404-3922 or report the incident online. Contributing: Kyla A Sanford, Gabriel Velasquez Neira and Ella Thompson of FRESH TAKE FLORIDA. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Rescued, brought to Tallahassee, 'Trooper' the dog inspires state law
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Animal abusers will face harsher penalties under newly signed bills
DeSantis signed Trooper's Law on May 28, 2025. (Photo via via Leon County Humane Society Facebook) Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two bills Wednesday that will increase fines and sentences for people convicted of abusing pets or restraining them outside during natural disasters. Lawmakers passed the bills, HB 255 and SB 150, in honor of Dexter, a bulldog mix found decapitated and dumped in St. Petersburg, and Trooper, a bull terrier a Florida Highway Patrol officer found tied to a fence along Interstate 75 as Hurricane Milton approached. 'Current sentencing guidelines don't match the gravity of these crimes, and it was evident that Florida law needed to do more to protect dogs from senseless violence,' DeSantis said during the bill signing ceremony in Loxahatchee. Dexter's Law, which will go into effect July 1, creates a sentencing multiplier for people convicted of intentionally torturing, mutilating, or killing a pet, meaning that they could serve a longer sentence. Under the bill, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement must create, by the beginning of 2026, a database of people who plead guilty or no contest or who have been convicted of animal cruelty. At least seven counties and Tallahassee have a registry of animal abusers, according to a legislative bill analysis. A judge sentenced the 66-year-old who decapitated Dexter days after adopting him last year and dumped his body in Fort De Soto Park to a year and 60 days in jail, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Trooper's Law will go into effect on Oct. 1 and will make it a third-degree felony to restrain and abandon a dog outside during a natural disaster. Third-degree felonies are punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 and imprisonment for up to five years. Trooper Orlando Morales said he'd responded to a report of an animal in distress 'It took several loops, but I thank God that He gave me the right time and right place of where to be, and after the second or third loop, I was able to find a dog clearly in water, in distress,' Morales said. 'And it was a horrific moment to be in.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
