On a recent morning, a man in the Bronx, New York, left his home and found someone he didn’t expect. A black dog was shivering in the street, chained to a pole nearby.
The pup didn’t trust Rodriguez at first and growled as she approached. With help from some tasty snacks, Rodriguez eventually coaxed the dog over. She wrapped the pup in a blanket and drove her to a friend’s dog grooming business nearby.
Comfortable and cared for, the pup got a new lease on life and a new name — Cleo. She gained weight and began trusting those around her. Rodriguez found Cleo a temporary home with a patient foster mom. Days went by, and Cleo’s foster mom realized she never wanted to part with her new houseguest. She decided to adopt Cleo and give her a forever family.
“Her new mom works from home, so she has a lot of time for her,” Rodriguez said. “She has a little sister, a Chihuahua, and [they’ve] become best friends.”
For Rodriguez, seeing Cleo so joyful is worth all the effort.
“I’m happy and honored,” Rodriguez said. “If I could do it all over again, I would do it 1,000 times.”