April 2025 Newsletter
🎉VOLUNTEERS🎉
MAKE THE MAGIC HAPPEN!
April is National Volunteer Month - a time to celebrate and recognize the contributions of volunteers. It is an opportunity to join the impact of volunteerism and encourage more people to get involved in their communities and a great way to give back.
At Mutts with a Mission, our volunteers are the heart of everything we do. Our Puppy Raiser volunteers help train and care for our Service Dogs in Training (SDiTs) that will one day assist Veterans and First Responders living with physical and emotional challenges. These dogs provide independence, safety and hope - and it all begins with our volunteers. We are one step closer to changing lives thanks to the incredible support from our community. Everyone is contributing in ways that suit their time and level of commitment—from volunteer groups helping to clean our facility and landscape the grounds, to organizations hosting puppy toy and treat drives. Businesses are sponsoring our puppies, and community partners are donating water and other supplies for our Transfer Camps.
Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a meaningful impact.
👏Thank You, MWAM VOLUNTEERS!👏
We could not serve those who keep us free without you!
Pictured below: Volunteer student from Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, SDiT Neo with tugs made by SCA students from Shelton Park Elementary, volunteer working with newest SDiTs, NFCU volunteers with SDiTs Vader, Patriot and Trident, Radar and Que with donations from Girl Scout Troup #948.
📣ANNOUNCING OUR NEW GOLD LEVEL SPONSOR📣
RAYTHEON, NEWPORT NEWS
Mutts With a Mission is thrilled to welcome Raytheon as a Gold Level Sponsor of one of our youngest Service Dogs in Training, Patriot! Raytheon’s generous support will help cover the cost of our two-week Transfer Camp, a critical part of the training process that prepares our recipients for life with their new Service Dogs before graduation.
Thank you for believing in our mission and choosing to partner with us. We are excited to watch Patriot learn and grow, and we’re truly grateful for your commitment to making a meaningful difference.
📣ANNOUNCING OUR NEW BRONZE LEVEL SPONSOR📣
ATLANTIC BAY MORTGAGE GROUP, LYNNHAVEN
We are pleased to welcome and announce Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group, Lynnhaven as a Bronze Level Sponsor of 4-month-old Steele, one of our amazing Service Dogs in Training! This donation offsets the cost of veterinary services during the dog's working life.
From all of us, especially Steele, thank you for believing in the power of Service Dogs and the difference they make. We’re proud to have you as part of our pack!
JOIN OUR DIFFERENCE MAKERS!
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNTIES AVAILABLE
DID YOU KNOW....
MWAM receives direct employee donations matched by thousands of businesses. To find out if your company will match your donation, please click the Gift Matching option below.
Pictured: one of our youngest SDiTs, Jade
💐MUTTS MERCH for MAY💐
With just one click, you can shop for all of your Mother's Day, graduation, teacher, and spring birthday gifts at the MWAM online store. We offer everything you need such as water bottles to stay hydrated, adorable plush pups, and a variety of
t-shirts that are ideal for the summer and spring.
Proceeds from each item go directly back into our
SDiT Training Program.
**FREE SHIPPING!**
🌱LOCAL FRIENDS: HELP WANTED!🌱
As a non-profit, MWAM relies on the generous support of community partners and sponsors to help us keep our operations running smoothly and to maintain our grounds. We are currently seeking a sponsor to assist with regular mowing and basic lawn care for our facility grounds.
In return for lawn care services, we will proudly recognize your business as a community sponsor through our website, social media, and newsletter, highlighting your support of our mission and your commitment to the local community.
If this is something you would be open to exploring, we would love to connect, share more details, and welcome you to our facility for a visit.
Please contact us at 757-465-1033 or email Liz@muttswithamission.org
Thank you for considering this opportunity to support
Mutts With A Mission and the work we do.
Pictured below: SDiTs Jade and Steele
👏PAWSITIVE PARTNERS👏
We’re incredibly thankful for the generous support from the Virginia Beach Republican Women’s Club. Their decision to include MWAM among the organizations they support means so much to us and the community we serve. Tara and Trident enjoyed spending the afternoon with them and speaking about our Service Dogs in Training and how they help Veterans and First Responders. We also enjoyed a visit as some members got to see what we do and meet some of our amazing SDiTs in action. We are appreciative of your continued commitment to our mission.
MWAM Puppy Raisers and Service Dogs in Training had such a great time at the FedEx Freight VBE Charity Truck Driving Championship. Our SDiTs loved meeting the drivers and watching them navigate the obstacle course. We are thankful for the invitation and to have been the highlighted charity for this event. Our pups are flattered to have received the award for Best in Show.
Pictured below: (SDiT Willow)
We are thankful to Cape Henry Rotary Club, a community partner, for choosing MWAM to be the recipient of some of the proceeds from Oyster Crush, 2024, an annual charity event. Our Puppy Raiser representative and her SDiT, Radar, had a great time meeting members of the club and chatting about our mission at the awards breakfast held earlier this month. Thank you for giving back to your local community!
Pictured below: SDiT Radar
One Cup At A Time - thank you to Black Riffle Coffee Company, Virginia Beach, for allowing your employee to conduct his senior project, Barriers of Access, at your shop. The limited-edition drinks inspired by real hero pups were a hit with a percentage of sales going to MWAM. We are beyond thankful for this collaboration and for MWAM to be the recipient of this fundraising event.
Pictured below: SDiTs Avenger and Stinger
Mutts With A Mission is Proud to be 1 of 4 ADI Accredited Organizations based in Virginia
ADI Is The Global Authority in the Assistance Dogs Industry
Assistance Dogs International, Inc. (ADI) is a worldwide coalition of non-profit programs that train and place Assistance Dogs. ADI was founded in 1986 from a group of seven small programs.
Mission: ADI fosters a collaborative global community dedicated to the highest standards of excellence for human-dog partnerships.
Vision: Creating a world without barriers through exceptional human-dog partnerships and supporting a global network.
Service Dog: A dog that has been specifically trained to perform tasks for an individual with disabilities.
MWAM Facility Dog: A specially trained dog that works with a Peer Support team member in a law enforcement agency. The dog must be trained to do specific, skilled tasks in a variety of different situations within the facility environment with multiple people; it must be more than just a presence within the facility.
MWAM Expeditionary Facility Dog (EFD): EFDs are trained to work with mental health professionals and other handlers to improve the well-being of military personnel. They work onboard U.S. Navy ships and are task trained to help reduce stress, anxiety and symptoms of depression while also encouraging those that need mental health treatment to seek it.
Pictured below: SDiTs, Rivet, Phoenix and Wasabi
🥳THANK YOU, SPONSORS!🥳
WANT TO KNOW WHAT SOME OF OUR EXPEDITIONARY FACILITY DOGS ARE DOING? FOLLOW THEM!
CAPT FATHOM
USS GEORGE H.W. BUSH (CVN-77)
CAPT POSEIDON
USS NIMITZ (CVN-68)
CAPT RUDDER
USS CARL VINSON (CVN-70)
❤️MISSION MOMENT❤️
Our Service Dogs in Training enjoying spring.
Pictured below: (left to right) Willow, Avenger, Patriot, Jade (chewing on a toy chocolate bunny), Radar, Guess and Raven
📶Connect With Us! 💻
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