As hurricane season approaches, most prioritize sheltering homes and families, leaving pets behind in the chaos. Trooper, the bull terrier left behind last year during Hurricane Milton, has caused a significant discussion about animal safety during emergencies.
Senator Don Gaetz introduced Senate Bill 150, declaring leaving pets behind during a state of emergency a third-degree felony.
If passed, those who leave animals behind during hurricanes could face five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
The bill was prompted by the rescue of Trooper, who was found chained to a fence along Interstate 75 during Hurricane Milton floodwaters. Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Orlando Morales braved the dangerous waters to save Trooper, an act of heroism that quickly went viral.
Governor Ron DeSantis denounced Trooper’s owner, Giovanny Aldama Garcia, who faces a charge of aggravated cruelty to animals, punishable by up to five years in prison.
“You don’t tie up a dog and leave them out there for a storm,” DeSantis said after Aldama Garcia’s arrest in October. “That’s not acceptable, and we will hold you accountable.”
Abandoned pets during disasters are not new. After Hurricane Irma, Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control rescued over 40 dogs, many of which had been left in pens or tied up outside. On a local scale, the ASPCA rescued around 600 animals in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina following the hurricane.
This troubling trend led Gaetz to introduce Senate Bill 150. “We must do more than tie an animal up to a fence post in advancing floodwaters or abandoning them to the elements,” said Gaetz. “That is why I introduced this bill, which would make it a third-degree felony to abandon, tie up or tether an animal during a National Weather Service-declared emergency.”
While the legislation covers the legal aspect, shelters and animal groups throughout Florida also do their part. The Leon County Humane Society, which accepted Trooper after he was rescued, partners with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), rescue groups, and emergency responders in their area to ensure pets are evacuated and tended to in an emergency.
“Last major hurricane in Southwest Florida, 80 animals were brought to a shelter in Walton County, where they were cared for by volunteers until they could be reunited with their owners,” Gaetz said.
Trooper’s story did not end with his rescue. Given a clean bill of health, Trooper was adopted by a loving family. His story reminds us that even in the worst situations, animals can be rescued and given another chance.
The new law is long overdue, say people like Kush Chakari, a Jacksonville resident who has witnessed the devastation of abandoned pets.
“It’s tough to see animals like that. I used to see cats roaming all the time,” Chakari said. “But with laws like this, we’re telling people that it’s unacceptable to leave an animal behind, especially if a storm is coming.”
Trooper’s Law has passed the Criminal Justice Committee and is waiting to be heard by the Agriculture Committee. Lawmakers hope it will be signed into law before the next hurricane season.
“There will be consequences for individuals who leave their pets behind during a disaster,” Gaetz said. “We hope that it’s a serious incentive to animal owners to be careful, to plan, and have a plan for what you’re going to do with your animals if you’re facing a terrible weather emergency.”
As the bill navigates the legislative process, it is a significant step in Florida’s fight for stronger animal protection laws. Shelters continue to do the lifesaving work of evacuating and housing animals during disasters, and this new law would prevent the suffering that results from neglect.
“We need to ensure we protect our animals,” Chakari said. “No one should ever have to witness an animal suffer because of negligence on the part of someone else.”