On a cold, wet afternoon, New York City police Officer Michael Pascale was patrolling a public park when he came across a heartbreaking image: A tiny , skinny, frightened black  puppy chained to a fence, surrounded by broken bottles and needles. The  dog , whom he later named Joey, was wet and shivering and it was obvious he had been dumped.

“He just looked at me with those ‘Help me’ eyes,” Pascale told The Dodo. “The first thing I thought was, ‘I need to get him out of here.’”

Pascale, an officer with a heart of gold and a love for animals, couldn’t leave Joey in that situation. She freed him from the chain and took him to her patrol car, where she dried him with a towel and offered him some water and food.

“I don’t see any animal,” Pascale said. “I can see a soul. And I can’t avoid that either.”

Pascale, touched by Joey’s grief, texted the photo to his wife. “Take him home,” she ordered without hesitation. The couple, moved by the little dog’s story, set out to adopt him, but there was one small obstacle: The rules at the Animal Care Centers of NYC in Brooklyn shelter, where Pascale had taken Joey, required that the dog be held in custody for 72 hours to allow any potential owner to claim him.

Pascale, with a heavy heart, promised to return to see Joey during that time. And so she did, visiting him every day. With each visit, her love for him grew stronger. Joey, who at first seemed shy and shy, opened up to Pascale, showering him with kisses and joy.

Finally, after 72 hours of waiting, Pascale was able to adopt Joey. The joy of both was palpable. Pascale, with tears in her eyes, promised Joey that she would never suffer abuse or church again.

Joey, now a member of the Pascale family, has transformed their lives. He is a playful and affectionate dog who enjoys walks around New York City and cuddling on the couch with his mother. Pascale, proud of his new companion, remembers that Joey has become “Mommy’s boy.”

The story of Joey and Officer Pascale is a reminder of the importance of compassion and kindness, and how a small act of kindness can change the life of an animal and a person. Once a stray, wiry dog, Joey is now a symbol of hope and love, a testament to the fact that even in the darkest of places, the light of kindness can shine.