A Florida Republican filed a new bill that would increase penalties for animal cruelty during a state of emergency, prompted by public outrage over a Florida man tying up and abandoning his dog as Hurricane Milton approached.
Navarre Rep. Joel Rudman, who will leave office on New Year's Day to pursue a congressional seat, filed HB 79 on Monday. If passed, the legislation would up the first-degree misdemeanor animal cruelty charge to a third-degree felony if committed during a declared state of emergency.
"I'm all in [on this bill] because I'm a big-time dog lover," Rep. Rudman told The FloridianĀ via phone call. "I have two border collies myself, and I would never ever dream of treating a family pet in that manner. I was happy to deliver [this bill] because animal cruelty is something that we don't want to infiltrate any part of this state."
Rudman's bill was inspired by Bull terrier Trooper, who in October was tied to a Tampa fence and abandoned as residents fled the coastal town in anticipation of Category 3 Hurricane Milton. Florida Highway Patrol officers found the terrier on Interstate 75 one day before the hurricane's landfall "in flood waters up to his chest."
Trooper, NBC reported, was marked safe and healthy after he was taken to the vet, though State Attorney Suzy Lopez said the five-year-old was facing "sure death" had he not been rescued. 23-year-old Giovanny Aldama Garcia was arrested weeks later on felony charges of aggravated animal cruelty.
He said Trooper, the new name given to the terrier by Highway Patrol, was abandoned because Garcia "couldn't find anyone to pick the dog up," on his way to Georgia.
Lopez, meanwhile, called on lawmakers to strengthen penalties for animal abusers during a state of emergency, asking lawmakers to "take a look at this case and discuss changing the law to allow for harsher penalties for people who abandon their animals" during times of disaster.
Rudman has answered the call, though it remains unclear if he will find another Lawmaker to carry his seven bills through the finish line when he resigns his seat on Jan. 1 to pursue former Rep. Matt Gaetz's congressional seat.
Rudman also toldĀ The Floridian that he has spoken to a "number" of interested Representatives and has had a "positive" response for all his bills. However, he declined to comment on who the interested parties are.
Hurricane Milton hit Siesta Key on Oct. 10 with sustained winds of 120 mph, 13 days after Category 4 Hurricane Helene rocked Florida's Big Bend. With disastrous flooding and destroyed communities, the two major storms are estimated to have cost up to $100 billion in damages.
The Florida session begins on March 4.
