The Washington Commanders are adding a new MVP to their squad.
The team announced that , a four-month-old English Yellow Lab, will be the new “Most Valuable Pup” for the 2023 season.
Goldie arrived from North Carolina and is “staying with a volunteer puppy raiser and learning basic skills,” the Commanders said in a news release, adding that they were captivated by her fetching skills.
It’s all part of the team’s partnership with , an organization that provides military veterans who have fallen on hard times with service dogs, which started last season.
Since then, the Commanders’ charitable foundation gave $40,000 to K9s for Warriors, and head coach Ron Rivera donated $25,000 he received as聽the NFL’s 12th winner of the Salute to Service Award.
Unleashing our new team dog. Welcome, Goldie!
Goldie will soon begin training with to become a service dog for a military veteran in need!
鈥� Washington Commanders (@Commanders)
“After a thorough vetting process, our coaching staff was impressed with Goldie’s tenacity and speed on the grass,” Rivera said in a release. “She leaves it all on the field, whether she’s fetching a tennis ball or treat. Goldie will bring ‘paw-sitive energy’ and deep fetch expertise to our lineup and I am excited to welcome her to the team.”
Goldie will be partnered with a veteran by K9s for Warriors after the conclusion of the season, the team said.
She is the Commanders’ second team dog after a English black Labrador retriever named Mando was the team dog last season.
