Cru Vin Dogs Dog of the Month for DECEMBER/JANURARY

Dear readers and friends,

Our Cru Vin Dogs Dog of the Month will be a double this month, Trevin Weldin, a very special dog was elected to be the Dog of the Month for December, he has since been diagnosed with a rare form of Canine cancer. His mother and caretaker has been focusing her energies on giving Trevin the very best care a dog could hope for. So, with such a special and accomplished dog we wanted to make sure the piece was just right. Trevin is an incredible service dog with a huge heart and he and his mother have made a wonderful contribution to their community.

Sending my very best to them both and honoring the wonderful light they have been to each other and all of those who Trevin has worked with, here is an extra special Dog of the Month Feature:

Trevin Weldin
Cru Vin Dogs Dog of the Month

By Carol Weldin

"Trevin Weldin, bred to be an assistance dog by Canine Companions for Independence, puppy raised in Denver, CO and having completed advanced training at the South West Regional Training Center in Oceanside, CA, was “career changed” in August 2003 at the age of two, coming to live in Northern California.

Recognizing his extraordinary skills and delight in “working” led him to his alternate career path as a certified therapy dog in February 2004, having waited the requisite six months prior to certification.

His initial “work” (although he would hardly call it that) consisted of visits to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek, CA, visiting the Rehabilitation Unit, with occasional visits to Oncology and Pediatrics as requested by the hospital staff. Special events with disabled children at Camp Arroyo always brought joy to Trevin and delight to the children.

His commitment to literacy programs for children was exhibited by his involvement in Pleasanton Library’s Paws to Read Program; Orinda Library Paws to Read; and starting up his very own program at Ygnacio Library of reading to children and teaching the appropriate way to approach an unknown dog.

While all dogs know how to “speak”, Trevin would exercise his “library voice” with the command “whisper” to the delight of adults and children alike!
Trevin brings joy to the many faces both young and old, with a special fondness in his library visits with his little person friend Melyssa who always asked if she could read to Trevin.

Involvement with Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) in Walnut Creek, CA consisted of representation at special events such as Stars to the Rescue (their signature headliner fundraiser) as a greeter, and on-site Learning Center and Birthday Party Programs for kids, aimed at creating awareness of the human animal bond and humane treatment toward animals.

Trevin’s career has been varied, (one person even commented “he is the only dog who has a canine resume”) whether it be launching and demonstrating the Revive-A-Pet resuscitation mask program outfitting all fire trucks in the Pleasanton-Livermore Fire District, which promoted CBS Channel 5 anchor Ken Battista to say “he is either one very obedient dog or is trying to reach the dog treat at the end of the mask”, to his ambassadorial role with varied animal- assisted programs.

His outreach/public relations events reached an international level having met Madame Jihan Sadat the widow of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat (who was assassinated in 1981). Madame Sadat, who pioneered the cause of women’s rights in her country, currently teaches classes and leads seminars on women’s issues; Egyptian culture and international studies. She is the author of A Woman in Egypt.” Trevin met her at a Women’s Conference outreach activity.

The highlight of his career has been his special visits to George Mark Children’s House, visiting children with life limiting illnesses winning over several young patients some of whom were initially skeptical, but soon demonstrated big smiles when they heard he was in the House. Trevin could be found happily walking the halls alternately dressed as the Easter bunny; a Halloween pumpkin, and Santa “Paws”, carrying gifts for the kids and staff like in his monogrammed fabric “buckets”.

Sadly Trevin’s five-year therapy career will be cut short due to his recent diagnosis of hemangiosarcoma, having undergone emergency surgery on December 19, 2008. He will continue to bring joy to everyone whose life he continues to touch with his gentleness and sweet spirit. To everyone whose life he has touched in animal-assisted therapy, we salute and love you, Trevin."

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