Not only is he a budding TV star, but he does good work serving the community.

Pet owner Theresa Carroll wrote to tell us that she and her therapy dog, Winston, have earned a position as one of the top 100 finalists in the Milk-Bone Moments  Nationwide search to find America’s first-ever Milk-Bone Spokes-Dog.

Before we get to his story, here’s Winston!  

This is Winston on the set for a Nickelodeon shoot. Is he a charmer or what? 

More importantly, Winton is a therapy dog who works at Blythedale Children’s Hospital in Valhalla. Here he is making one kid very happy. 

Below is Winton’s story, as sent by Theresa (pictured with him in their contest submission). The link to vote for Winston to make him the Milk-Bone man is highlighted in the text.  So don’t forget — even if things don’t go your way Nov. 4, vote for Winston !  

As part of the year-long 100th Anniversary celebration, “dog parents” were invited to upload a photo or video depicting the special bond between a pet and their pet parents to the “Milk-Bone Moments” Web site. 

After reviewing the thousands of submissions from across America the contest recognized Westchester’s own, Theresa and Winston, as one of their top 100 favorite moments. The second and final leg of the contest has America deciding who the grand prize winner will be via an online voting poll. Votes can be cast on the Milk-bone Web site from October 19th through November 18th. 

With the Grand Prize — a $100,000 contract to serve as the first-ever Milk-Bone 100th Anniversary Spokes-Dog, plus a digital camera to record the year’s activities you can bet the competition is going to be “Ruff.”

When submitting her and Winston’s photo, Theresa never dreamed that as one of thousands of entries she even had a remote chance of being picked to be a finalist. But for the first time “dog parent” who had no knowledge of how to train or care for a puppy she found out, once again, that where Winston is concerned things have a funny way of working themselves out.

It was the realization of what a privilege it is to experience the special bond that all dog owners have always known and her desire to share that experience with others that led Winston to the Milk-Bone Contest, but more importantly to their involvement in Pet Facilitated Therapy. They trained vigorously, and finally earned their certification volunteering in various facilities; but soon found their “home” by bringing pet therapy to the courageous and amazing kids at Blythedale Children’s Hospital in Valhalla, New York.

Theresa states, “the most rewarding part of volunteering at Blythedale is watching Winston become part of the healing process of so many children, some with chronic and catastrophic diagnoses. There are days on the drive home from the hospital that I would tear up in disbelief and gratitude that Winston could make such a difference in the life and healing process of just one child on that day.” 

But as much as Theresa and Winston help the kids, the kids help Theresa and Winston in a wonderful merry-go-round of benefits. Winston has a special aptitude not just for therapy; but also for performance, and making that performance an integral part of the therapy program at Blythedale.

Winston has been so quick to learn new tricks, (Currently Winston performs over 20 behaviors and is still adding to his repertoire) numerous friends and trainers suggested they contact various agents and get Winston into “show biz.” And somehow, in a lucky break, the first time out, Winston actually landed a role on Saturday Night Live, playing a silly circus dog! 

Since that “momentous” occasion, Winston, in his adjunct role as “struggling actor,” has landed a Nickelodeon appearance along with fashion photo shoots, a music video, and some industry promotional events. It’s a tough business, but it has its’ benefits: Winston’s newfound “performance art” brings a new dimension of love and laughter, theatre and therapy to, his most valued audience, the kids at Blythedale.