A Florida man who authorities say admitted to leaving his dog tied to the side of a highway as Hurricane Milton barreled toward the state has been charged with aggravated animal cruelty, a felony.

Giovanny Aldama Garcia, 23, of Ruskin was arrested Monday and faces up to five years in prison after his dog, Jumbo, was found abandoned in chest-deep water earlier this month in Tampa amid evacuation efforts.

Quite frankly, I dont think that is enough, State Attorney Suzy Lopez said in a statement of the sentence Aldama Garcia faces if convicted. Hopefully, lawmakers take a look at this case and discuss changing the law to allow for harsher penalties for people who abandon their animals during a state of emergency.