By giving out dog treats at Peace Valley Park in Doylestown, Pa., Korean War veteran Joel Occhiuzzo brightens the day of dogs and their owners and connects with his community.
According to Occhiuzzo, he has been coming to the park every day for “about two years” to give out treats, and he knows all of the dogs “the minute [he] see[s] them.”
“If [the dogs are] coming in this direction or that direction, they’re pulling their owner,” Occhiuzzo said, “and a lot of times the owner just releases the leash.”
Chalfont resident Faith Hawkins feels it is great what Occhiuzzo is doing, and she looks forward to coming back.
“The fact that he does this every week out of the goodness of his heart, and just by himself, I think shows what kind of person he is and [his] ability to connect with people,” Hawkins said.
Occhiuzzo offers a variety of treats to meet the dogs’ different needs and diets, including beef liver bites, salmon and beef sticks.
“When I find out if a dog is sick, I try to find out [with] what and then [the] next time they come, I have something for them,” Occhiuzzo said.
Occhiuzzo also asks the owner their dog’s age and weight because each strip is for a dog that is 10 pounds, and he sanitizes his hands after feeding each dog.
“I make sure that what I’m doing is not going to hurt anybody,” Occhiuzzo said.
According to Occhiuzzo, the people he meets at the park love their dogs.
“They really pay attention [to their dogs] and it makes you want to do what I do,” Occhiuzzo said. “It makes you want to have whatever they need.”
Lansdale resident Rebecca Forry believes she might do the same thing as Occhiuzzo in the future because she has a “love of dogs.”
Occhiuzzo has never had his own dog, but he has always “treated everybody else’s dogs.”
“[My neighbor’s dog], at 3:00 in the afternoon, he’d be out the house for ice cream,” Occhiuzzo said. “I had a spoon for him and a cup for him, and I would spoon it and give it to him.”
As for Occhiuzzo, he has fun doing what he does and enjoys the dogs and the people. “If I make somebody happy, if I make a veteran happy when I help him, anybody that I do something for, that something good comes out of it,” Occhiuzzo said.
In addition to giving out dog treats, Occhiuzzo also has “all kinds of goodies” for kids, including stickers.
“I offer them whatever one they want and sometimes two or three depending on the child [if they get really excited],” Occhiuzzo said.
According to Richboro fourth-grader Clare Diglia, it felt “good” to receive a sticker and she may want to “make bracelets” to give back to her community like Occhiuzzo is doing.
Occhiuzzo said his father taught him to give from the heart without asking for praise or expecting anything in return.
“If you think you can do good, you do it,” Occhiuzzo said. “You just do it, and the reward is there.”