Painting with Purpose: One Veteran’s Way of Giving Back

For Trey Keen, connection came first through dogs — and then through paint. A Marine Corps Veteran who served eight years as a helicopter crew chief, including a combat deployment to Afghanistan, Trey was introduced to Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) through the Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) program at the Philadelphia VA. What started as an eight-week commitment quickly became something more.

When the two-month program ended, Trey wasn’t ready to step away. He continued participating at WCC’s Philly program site at the University of Pennsylvania — and more than a year later, he’s still showing up.

“I like the premise of it, it’s an opportunity to help other Veterans,” Trey said. “There’s no better group than working with dogs. It’s really cool to know that in the long run these dogs are going to go on to help a Veteran in some shape or form.”

That sense of purpose mirrors what Trey experiences every day with his own service dog, Frankie, a three-year-old German Shepherd. While Frankie was trained through another organization, her impact on Trey’s life has been profound.

“She wakes me up before nightmares start — that has been amazing,” he shared. “She does a million other things for me. I don’t think we’ve ever been apart for more than 15 minutes since I’ve had her. She goes everywhere with me — Eagles games, concerts, just everyday things. My PTSD and anxiety have gone down about 90%. She saves my life somehow every single day.”

Before Frankie, Trey avoided public spaces altogether.

“For a while, I wasn’t doing anything — not going in public or anywhere,” he said. “Now there’s really nothing I won’t do if I have her with me.”

It was through another VA program — an arts and crafts class — that Trey discovered something else unexpected: painting. He decided to try painting Frankie and surprised himself with the result. What began as a therapeutic outlet soon turned into a meaningful way to give back.

Today, Trey paints dog portraits on canvas, primarily using acrylics, and asks only one thing in return: the recipient make a donation to WCC. Over the past year, Trey has painted nearly 25 dog portraits in support of WCC. Several feature WCC dogs, including Tugger, Moon Dog Sarah, and Sam.

“It’s therapeutic,” Trey said. “I paint on an easel, and it just helps.”

His connection to WCC goes beyond the art. Trey helped train Moon Dog while involved in his first MBTR session, and he speaks warmly about the WCC staff who make the experience possible.

“Lisa and Jen (who run WCC’s program at Penn) are just incredible,” he said. “They really go above and beyond to help. I’ve seen them do things you wouldn’t expect them to do for Veterans — that’s another big reason I keep going back, they’re just incredible people.”

WCC Program Director and Service Dog Training Instructor Jennifer Desher has seen Trey’s commitment firsthand.

“From the very beginning, Trey has shown up for Warrior Canine Connection with so much heart and generosity. When he surprised Lisa and me with a portrait of Sam II and Sarah Lu after his first eight weeks with us, we were truly blown away — not just by how perfectly he captured them, but by the thoughtfulness behind the gift. Beyond his incredible talent, Trey consistently looks out for his fellow Veterans, offering rides and support whenever needed and his care for our pups is just as genuine. We’re incredibly grateful to have him as part of the WCC family.”

Through paint, patience and a deep belief in WCC’s mission, Trey continues to give back — one dog portrait at a time.

Curious about Trey’s work or interested in a custom piece? Trey is taking on additional requests and is happy to connect. You can reach him directly at soupcans11@gmail.com.
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