On a sweltering afternoon in Pompano, Florida, Officer Angela Laurella raced to a deserted side street where a distress call reported two abandoned dogs wilting in the triple‑digit heat.
One sight tore straight through her heart: a gaunt, blue‑gray bulldog cinched to a metal pole by a leash so short he could scarcely turn his head.
“Every rib showed,” recalled rescue founder Amy Roman, whose nonprofit 100+ Abandoned Dogs of Everglades Florida later documented the case. “He was dehydrated, shaky, and moments from collapse.”
When Officer Laurella knelt and stretched out her hand, the bulldog shrank back—then, with fragile courage, placed one paw in her palm as if to beg, Please, don’t leave me here. She named him Liam on the spot.
Knowing Liam needed urgent care, Laurella phoned Roman, who—despite an overflowing shelter roster—promised him safe harbor. “Somehow we always find room for one more soul who refuses to give up,” Roman said.
Today, Liam rests in Roman’s home, taking life one hearty bite at a time. The 17‑pound survivor now enjoys hourly portions of boiled chicken and rice, tail tapping the floorboards with every bowl delivered.
Multiple vet visits lie ahead, but Liam’s spirit shines brighter than the South Florida sun. “He greets everyone with kisses,” Roman marveled. “No anger, just gratitude.”
Sadly, his story mirrors a growing crisis: overwhelmed owners feel cornered by high costs and crowded shelters, then abandon pets in the summer heat. Roman pleads, “Please call a rescue before leaving an animal to fend for itself.”
Even after unthinkable neglect, Liam still stretches out that same trusting paw to every passerby, proof that second chances walk on four legs. “Dogs like Liam remind us that forgiveness heals,” Roman said, her voice thick with hope.
