Officer Angela Laurella was dispatched to a report of two dogs chained to posts on a dead-end street in Pompano, Florida.

No one knew how long the dogs had been there or who had abandoned them because there were no cameras in the area. Officer Laurella, on the other hand, knew that with temperatures outside exceeding 100 degrees, there was no time to waste.

She ran to discover a weak gray dog clinging to a post so tightly that he could barely move.

“He was tied to a post with a very short leash,” Amy Roman, president and founder of Over 100 Abandoned Dogs in Florida’s Everglades, told The Dodo. “He was emaciated and dry, and every bone and rib was sticking out of him.”

To greet the pets, the dog, now named Liam, placed his paw in the officer’s hand and bowed his head. “She slowly walked up to him and extended her hand, and he kind of leaned down and gave her his paw, as if to say, ‘Please help me get out of here,'” Roman explained.

Officer Lorella saw that Liam’s life was not easy and needed special care, so she sought help from a rescue of more than 100 abandoned dogs in the Florida Everglades. Although the rescue operation was beyond his capacity, Roman gladly received Liam.

Liam is currently recovering at Roman’s home after multiple vet appointments, as the 17-pound bulldog is steadily regaining his strength — and eating better than in the past.

“He always gets a lot of affection,” Roman added. “He’s feeding every hour, around the clock, so his body gets used to it… He’s having a great time now that we have volunteers preparing batches of boiled chicken and rice.”

While Liam still has a long road ahead of him, including several vet appointments, he has been a ray of sunshine since his rescue.

“He loves everyone, and this dog doesn’t have an average bone in his body,” Roman said. “That says it all to me, because after everything he’s been through, he’s still so grateful and forgiving.”

Liam is one of many animals in Florida that were recently abandoned or surrendered by their owners.

With so many shelters full, Roman hopes pet owners will seek help and resources from shelters and rescues before they decide they can no longer care for their pets. Liam exemplifies how every dog deserves a second chance.

Despite everything, Liam continues to reach out to people, proving that he is ready for a life with a loving family.

“I think dogs like Liam can teach humanity a thing or two,” Roman said. “It just restores your faith.”