TAMPA, Fla. – A judge on Thursday pushed back a criminal case that went viral over a man accused of abandoning his bull terrier tied to a fence along Interstate 75 in the face of an approaching major hurricane.
Giovanny Aldama Garcia, 23, of Ruskin, east of St. Petersburg, is facing a felony aggravated animal cruelty charge in a case that drew the attention of Gov. Ron DeSantis, national outrage – and a proposed new state law in Florida. He faces up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
“You don’t just tie up a dog and have them out there for a storm,” DeSantis said after Aldama Garcia’s arrest in October. “It’s totally unacceptable and we’re going to hold you accountable.”…