October 2025 Newsletter
🐾PAWS, PUMPKINS and PURPOSE🎃
Pictured above are SDiTs Wasabi, Smudge, and Rivet
The fall months bring cool breezes, colorful leaves, and plenty of learning opportunities for our Service Dogs in Training (SDiTs). At Mutts With A Mission, we know that every new sound, sight, and smell helps shape confident Service Dogs ready to handle the unexpected.
Halloween, in particular, offers a valuable test of focus and composure. Children knocking on doors, ringing doorbells, costumes that look and move in unfamiliar ways, and bowls full of candy and other treats at every turn are all distractions that our SDiTs must learn to navigate. Each “trick” of the season helps our pups practice staying steady, ignoring temptations, and remaining attentive to their Puppy Raisers. This kind of training ensures that when they graduate, our dogs are fully prepared to support their partners in all environments.
Here are a few Halloween safety tips for SDiTs and all dogs:
🍫 Keep chocolate, candy, and wrappers out of reach.
🎃 Keep small decorations, glow sticks, and costumes away from curious noses and paws.
🚸 Avoid taking your dog out in large groups of excited children if they are still learning to remain calm in busy environments.
This is a great time of year for exploring, learning, and enjoying outdoor play. Every day is filled with new experiences that help our SDiTs grow more confident on their journey to becoming Service Dogs.
Pictured below is SDiT Sparrow
THANK YOU
CLYDE "CASH" BARBER,
👏RED LEVEL SPONSOR!👏
We are honored to announce that our long-time friend and supporter, Retired U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Cash Barber, is now a Red Level Sponsor. Meet Kona, a black Labrador from NEADS! We are thrilled to welcome Kona to Mutts With A Mission and begin her training to become a Service Dog.
Every Tuesday, Barber can be found sharing his knowledge at the National Naval Aviation Museum located at NAS Pensacola. Visitors stop to listen to the incredible stories this 101-year-old Veteran has to share as he recalls his experiences with the PBY Catalina aircraft.
Mutts With A Mission extends a heartfelt thank you to Lt. Cmdr. Barber for his remarkable service and his continued support of our program. Your generosity helps us continue to Serve Those Who Keep Us Free.
SDiT Kona sponsored by Cash Barber
Pictured above is SDiT Jade.
🍂MAKE A DIFFERENCE THIS FALL 🍂
SPONSOR A S
ERVICE DOG IN TRAINING & BE A PART OF A LIFE-CHANGING JOURNEY.
Every sponsorship package offers a unique way to make an impact. You could cover a year of dog food for a Service Dog in Training, see your company’s logo proudly displayed on a puppy’s training vest, or fully support a dog from the very first day of training all the way to graduation. We are thankful for the sponsors listed below and would be excited to welcome you or your company to our growing family of supporters.
LEARN MORE ABOUT MONTHLY DONATIONS!🐾
🐾LEARN MORE ABOUT SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES!
Pictured below is SDiT Trey
⭐ADI ACCREDITED & CHARITY NAVIGATOR⭐
*MWAM is an ADI-accredited organization.
*We hold a 4-star rating on Charity Navigator.
*You can be confident your donations make a difference in our program.
Pictured right is SDiT Phoenix
🐶MUTTS MERCH🐶
2026 MWAM Wall Calendar is HERE!!!
🐾 Each month showcases our dogs — from curious pups to proud working partners — capturing their journey and spirit along the way.
📅 Inside, you will find stories, quotes, and fascinating facts about our mission and the work these incredible dogs do every day.
🧡Perfect for your home, office, or as a thoughtful gift.
All proceeds from all merchandise sold go directly back into our training program!
Pictured below is SDiT Vatra
💳SHOP ALL MUTTS MERCH HERE💻
INCLUDING CLOTHING, CALENDARS, AND TEAM HUDSON GEAR!
🎉🐾COMMUNITY PARTNERS🐾🎉
Once a month, our friends from Navy Federal Credit Union come out to volunteer at our Training Center — and they can handle any task we throw their way! From vacuuming and washing floors to sanitizing the puppy spa area, to pulling weeds, watering plants, and sweeping, this hardworking crew does it all.
Thank you, NFCU, for your continued support and dedication.
Pictured above are SDiTs Pheonix and Trey
SDiTs Jade and Smudge are pictured above
Great Bridge Presbyterian Church hosted a Blessing of the Animals on October 5th. It was a beautiful day, and we were delighted that some of our Puppy Raisers and SDiTs were able to attend!
Thank you, GBPC, for welcoming our teams and for the generous donation raised in support of our program.
We are thrilled to welcome a new partner, First Carolina Bank! Recently, two of their staff members spent part of their day helping us tackle projects around our training center, and they did an amazing job! Their hard work and positive energy made a real difference. Of course, we could not let them leave without a little Service Dog in Training puppy love.
Thank you, First Carolina Bank, for lending a hand and joining our mission. We hope to see you again soon!
Pictured above is SDiT Trit
MWAM WINE at WATERS EDGE WINERY
🧡MISSION MOMENT 🧡
From meeting Sailors aboard U.S. Navy ships in Norfolk to visiting pumpkin patches, our SDiTs had a busy month! October offered a variety of distractions and challenges ideal for helping our young pups build the confidence they need to become skilled and reliable Service Dogs for their recipients. 🎃
FOLLOW OUR EXPEDITIONARY FACILITY DOGS (EFDs)
⚓Stationed Aboard U.S. Navy Ships⚓
Click the buttons below for EFD Instagram pages
CAPT FATHOM
USS GEORGE H.W. BUSH (CVN-77)
CAPT POSEIDON USS NIMITZ (CVN-68)
CAPT RUDDER USS CARL VINSON (CVN-70)
*|NPO_NAME|*
*|NPO_ADDRESS|*
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