THE PET PROTECTOR

Julie Kessler, founder of Oakley’s Oath, is turning her pain into purpose

When the Kessler family lost their beloved dog, Oakley, to a preventable accident, Julie Kessler resolved to do whatever she could to keep others from experiencing the same pain.

“I fell into Oakley’s Oath by chance, not by choice,” says Kessler, who was having work done on her roof in 2021 when a contractor placed a clear plastic tarp over the pool. The family dog, Oakley, named after Oakley sunglasses (which was named after the brand owner’s dog), fell through the tarp and drowned. “As soon as it happened, I knew I had to do something. It can’t happen to anyone else,” Kessler says.

Kessler’s nonprofit, Oakley’s Oath, aims to increase awareness about pet and child safety by promoting communication between homeowners and contractors. Any diversion from a home’s normal routine – from construction work to family get-togethers to open houses – can mean unanticipated dangers for a family’s most vulnerable members.

The nonprofit’s safety tips (www.oakleysoath.com) include keeping doors and gates closed when not in use; knowing what chemicals are being used where and when; and communicating with workers about when pets – who should be kept in a secure room when possible, in addition to being collared and microchipped – will be outside.

Through it all, the supportive messages Kessler receives from pet owners and parents have been a source of constant motivation. “Many people reach out and say, ‘I never would’ve thought of this,’ and to make a long story short, I never would have either,” she says. “One woman even reached out on Nextdoor and said that when they had a contractor in their house, she was extra vigilant because of our safety tips, and she was able to save her drowning dog, Kona. They said, ‘We are so sorry for what happened to Oakley, but Kona thanks Oakley for saving him.’ It gives me chills. That’s the whole goal of Oakley’s Oath, saving lives.”

Family Values

An Arizona native, Kessler earned a degree in communications and marketing from the University of Arizona before working in the congressional office in Washington, D.C., and earning her master’s in public communication from American University.

Upon returning to the Valley, she worked at her husband’s optometry practice while raising their two girls. When Kessler was inspired to enter the nonprofit world, she felt a little bit of doubt and a whole lot of determination.

“There are so many great organizations out there, and sometimes I’ve thought that other people have better ideas about things than I do, but this one came on really strong. It’s given me more confidence.”

Starting Oakley’s Oath from the ground up taught Kessler some valuable life lessons. Chief among them – that she can do more than she thinks she can, that she has something important to share with the world, and that she’s capable of making a difference.

It’s these principles she wants to embody for her daughters, now 24 and 22 years old, who serve as essential members of Kessler’s cheerleading squad. “I worked in my husband’s office and was a stay-at-home mom when they were growing up, and I think I gave them impression that I’d drop everything for them, that their stuff was more important than mine. I’ve changed a little – I want to model that each of us is important and self-sufficient. I have a life, too, I have plans, and I have a purpose.”

Other members of Kessler’s family who play a vital role at Oakley’s Oath are her husband and her father. “My husband, Maury, is on our board, and Oakley was his baby so it has a special place in his heart. He’s my biggest supporter alongside my dad, who’s 85,” she says. “My dad is my idea man. We’re a lot alike, always finishing each other’s sentences. He’s not a pet owner but he still believes in our mission and wants to help me spread the word.”

A Better World

Moving forward, Kessler has ambitious plans to spread her messages of vigilance and kindness with the world. In addition to publishing an autobiography and hosting a fundraising event for Oakley’s Oath on Oct. 19, Kessler is working on a continuing education program for realtors, who often have to work around pets during open houses.

She also hopes that one day, contractors can partner with Oakley’s Oath as a sign of their commitment to communication.

“My intention for contractors would be for them to change their mottos from ‘We do a great job on your house’ to ‘We put safety first and we do a great job.’ I had a roof put on when we lost Oakley, and I don’t have any leaks, but I’d rather have a leak in my roof and still have my dog.”

One pinch-herself moment came when the city of Scottsdale proclaimed April 14 Oakley’s Oath Day, boosting awareness of the importance of pet and child safety in the community.

“It really melts my heart and gives me so much pride that they believed in us. This is our first proclamation, in the place where the accident happened, and we hope to have many more in cities in Arizona and beyond. Our lives are precious and finite, and I’d just like to put a little more kindness into the world and make a difference.”

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