Oakley - The Real Salty Dawg

If you ever wondered about the name Salty Dawg — and the logo that goes with it — both came from my dog, Oakley. This is his story.

Oakley came into my life as a Christmas surprise in 2013. My wife drove all the way to a breeder in Raleigh, North Carolina to pick him up and somehow managed to keep him hidden in a spare bedroom over our garage until Christmas morning. I had no idea he was there. Not a clue. I didn't even want a dog at the time, but when I met him, everything changed.

From the very beginning, Oakley was full of personality. As a Weimaraner, he was incredibly smart, expressive, and vocal about what he wanted and how he felt. He wasn’t just a dog that lived in our house — he was a presence. He loved people. Truly loved them. He thrived on attention, and being a big, friendly, handsome dog, he naturally became the center of it wherever he went. To the point that if you were going to walk him somewhere public, just assume you'll need an extra few minutes for all the times you get stopped. He loved it.

Oakley had a way of stealing the show without trying. He loved Dog-o-ween contests (dog costume contests at Halloween, if you're not familiar) and entered five of them over the years. He won all five. We dressed him up as a lion, a blue ox, and even a goat. It didn’t matter what he dressed up as — he wore it with confidence and soaked up every second of the attention. We still have his trophies sitting here at the house.

He loved the water. He loved fishing. And more than anything, he loved being on the boat with his mom and dad. His absolute favorite thing in the world was standing on the front deck while we were running, front paws braced, ears flapping wildly in the wind. That was his happy place. When the boat stopped, though, playtime was over. He expected results and he thought that every cast should bring a fish into the boat. When a fish was swung into the boat, he’d give it a sniff, maybe a lick and then watch closely as it was released. He never understood why we let them go.

For my wife and me, Oakley was our fishing buddy, our constant companion, and our shadow. It only made sense that when it came time to name my fishing charter, I named it after him. That’s where the name Salty Dawg came from. Even the logo came from a picture of Oakley wearing sunglasses. He wasn’t just part of it — he was the inspiration behind it. And he still is. He’ll always be Captain Oakley to me. When people see the logo on the boat or on a shirt, I get to tell them Oakley’s story. I’m glad I chose to name it after him, because in a strange way, it feels like it keeps a piece of him here with us.

Oakley's Legacy

It’s easy to fall into the belief that our pets will always be there. That somehow they’re immune to time. In early 2025, we learned how wrong that belief is. Oakley was diagnosed with cancer.

We did everything we could. We took him to a veterinary cancer specialist in Charleston for surgery. After that, we received outstanding care from our local vet, Dr. Katie at Brunswick Animal Hospital. Nothing worked. My wife, an RN, poured her heart, her energy, and her strength into caring for Oakley around the clock. Her love and dedication gave us extra time with him — months we’ll always be grateful for. I can never repay her for giving us that time with Oak. I’m just grateful for her expertise as a nurse and that she’s the kind of person who gives that level of care to everyone she loves.

While he was being treated, we focused on giving Oakley as much of the life he loved as we could. Whenever he felt up to it, we got him back out on his boat — his happy place. We took him to the park. My wife and daughter even took him to a dog-friendly winery in the mountains, which he absolutely loved. Not because of the wine, of course, but because there were people everywhere and couches he was allowed to sit on. Being around people, soaking up attention, and just being part of things always mattered most to him.

By the end of July 2025, the cancer had progressed rapidly. There were no more options. No more chances. We had to make the hardest decision of our lives. We had spent tens of thousands of dollars, driven countless miles, made countless calls, and given our all trying to give Oakley more time. We would have given everything we own to keep him. Truly. But it was his time.

Oakley passed away on August 1, 2025, just a couple months shy of his 12th birthday. We chose to have the vet come to our home, because we wanted him surrounded by his family, in a place where he felt safe and loved. Our hearts still ache. In truth, I'm crying now as I write this.

After he was gone, I heard a term I’d never heard before — soul dog — a soulmate, but in dog form. That’s exactly who Oakley was, not just to me, but to our entire family. He wasn’t just a pet; he was family. I’ve had other dogs in my life, but it’s never felt the same, and I don’t think it ever will. If you haven’t met your soul dog yet, I truly hope that you do.

Every time I see the Salty Dawg name or logo, I see him. I remember the wind in his ears, the way he watched every cast, the way he loved people, the way he filled every space he was in. Oakley will always be part of my life, part of my family, and part of every memory tied to the water.

Run free, buddy. You’re no longer in pain.

You’ll always be our Salty Dawg, Oakley. We love you, and we’ll see you again one day.