The Dog Days of Summer: Oakley’s Story

“I noticed him on a neighbor’s porch last week— actually my cat noticed him sleeping on Blake’s porch,” said Kathy Hull of the medium-sized black dog huddled on a pretty Oak Avenue front porch a few Sundays ago. Before long, residents and animal-lovers were chiming in around the town’s active “NextDoor” website community. He seemed shy and skittish, but sweet natured: he was reluctant to allow anybody to get too close.
In a heartbeat, four neighbors were twice daily leaving dishes of food and water out for the downtrodden-looking fellow who had a visible limp and a gnarly-looking skin condition.
Elusively this mixed-breed pup scooted around (and between the legs of) would-be capturers, but eventually Sasha Breller was able to tempt him into a fenced-in yard with her recently-rescued female beagle.
 “He shrieked out at first, crying about being in the yard,” said Sasha. But then she treated him to a hamburger and eventually he allowed Sasha to pet him. “He’s so grateful for affection. You could tell he was deprived of affection for so long and that he was very happy to be rescued.”
The first order of business was to name the little fellow and since many of his saviors and his porch of choice were all on Oak Avenue, “Oakley” seemed an appropriate appellation.
 “He’d clearly been living outside for a long time,” said Judy Sarullo of Pet Rescue By Judy. Sarullo brought him to her vet immediately where he was treated for a variety of ailments. “She [the vet] cleaned and packed his ears because the infection was so bad… and he got a special bath and food and for the skin infection.”
Community members have taken up a collection to defray Oakley’s medical costs which are being absorbed in large part by Judy and her organization.
Oakley continues to make progress, estimates put him between 5 and 7 years old, but he’s proven very able to learn new tricks. He’s enjoying being loved up with cocoanut oil on the regular to soothe the irritated skin from which he’s been suffering and has already begun using a leash.
As his medical conditions improve by the day, he is blossoming into a wonderful pet seeking his forever home. Oakley has another appointment with his vet on July 11, and if his skin is sufficiently improved, he will become neutered and then fully adoptable.
Anyone wishing to contribute to his medical expenses can log onto www.petrescuebyjudy.com/info/donate and specifically mention Oakley.

Jessica Pirani, Herald Arts Columnist, JessieBerger@yahoo.com.