On a chilly, rainy afternoon, a fateful encounter unfolded between NYPD Officer Michael Pascale and a small black dog named Joey. Officer Pascale was on patrol in a public park when he spotted Joey hiding amidst discarded needles and broken bottles, his presence barely noticeable.
Wrapped around Joey’s neck was a heavy chain, fastened to a fence, leaving him wet, shivering, and abandoned. Officer Pascale shared, “He’s just looking up at me with these ‘Help Me’ eyes. I needed to get him out of here.” A determination to rescue the helpless creature formed in his mind.
Driven by his compassion for animals, Officer Pascale transported Joey to the Animal Care Centers of NYC shelter in Brooklyn. As he dried off the grateful pup with a towel, a unique bond began to develop between them. “I don’t see an animal,” Pascale reflected, “I discern a soul. And I don’t steer clear of that.”
He promptly sent a picture of the abandoned dog to his wife, who didn’t hesitate to say, “Bring him home!” The couple agreed to adopt Joey, ready to overcome any obstacles that lay ahead.
When the stray hold period concluded, Pascale joyfully adopted Joey. The paperwork was completed, and as they bid each other farewell outside the shelter, Joey showered Pascale with affectionate kisses. With a solemn promise to shield Joey from further mistreatment or neglect, they embarked on a new chapter together.
