After the car accident on Interstate 59 North in which his dog, Oakley, disappeared, James El-Ajam, returned to Trenton to search for him. Thanks to having Oakley’s picture posted on several pet-finding websites, many people in the area were already aware of the missing dog and keeping an eye out for him.
Oakley, who is microchipped, is lost in the Trenton, Ga., area. He was in the car when his owner, James El-Ajam, wrecked on Interstate 59 North and was gone before the ambulance arrived.Tips
* First, look around your neighborhood. Lost pets usually are confused and just want a safe place to hide. Walk the streets where you live, calling your pet’s name and maybe shaking a container that contains their favorite treat.* Keep your pets inside on the Fourth of July. Why? Fireworks. They can terrify some dogs. And, once a dog is on the run, it may keep running because everywhere it goes there may be more fireworks to frighten it even more.* If a pet is lost, put a shirt or blanket outside; dogs and cats have extremely sensitive senses of smell and could be able to follow your scent back home.* Microchip your pet.* Make sure they’re always wearing a collar that has a tag with their name and your phone number on it.
Online resources
Facebook› Missing Pets Chattanooga› Chattanooga Pets Lost and Found› Tennessee Valley Pet Lost and Found› Lost Found Pets in Chattanooga› Lost and Found Pets in Dalton and Surrounding CitiesInternet› www.mckameyanimalcenter.org› www.heschatt.org (Humane Educational Society of Chattanooga)› www.hsnwga.org (Humane Society of Northwest Georgia)› www.petkey.org (also on Facebook)› www.pawboost.com (also on Facebook)› www.lostmydoggie.com (also on Facebook)For information on steps to take if a pet is lost› McKamey Animal Center: www.mckameyanimalcenter.org› Humane Educational Society of Chattanooga: www.heschatt.org› Humane Society of Northwest Georgia: www.hsnwga.org (Humane Society of Northwest Georgia)
James El-Ajam was headed north on Interstate 59, driving from his home in Pensacola, Fla., to meet family that lives in Knoxville.
Near Trenton, Ga., he found himself drifting on the highway. He pulled the steering wheel away from the drift – and the car flipped, rolling for about 400 feet before ending up on its wheels against an embankment. El-Ajam was unconscious in the backseat when emergency medical technicians found him. His dog, Oakley, was gone.
“He adopted Oakley about five years ago, and Oakley legitimately does everything with him,” says his sister, Liza El-Ajam. “My brother has moved several times for work, moved to brand-new places, been through many life hardships, and Oakley has gone and done everything with him.”