On October 8, 2026, the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) returned to its homeport at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego after roughly 322 days at sea. Among the 7,500 Sailors and Marines on board was Expeditionary Facility Dog, Capt. Fathom! Serving aboard the Lincoln since November 2025, Capt. Fathom remained alongside the crew throughout their extended Middle East deployment.
During his time at sea, Fathom played a vital role in breaking down barriers, making it easier for service members to connect with mental health professionals. Supported by a dedicated team of handlers, each of whom completed 120 hours of specialized MWAM training, Fathom was fully equipped for the journey. He deployed with his very own seabag complete with eye, ear, and paw protection, proper bedding, waste collection materials, food, treats, and of course, toys.
After pulling into San Diego, Fathom packed up once more and made his way to Virginia Beach, VA, with one of our staff members. He will enjoy some well-deserved R&R while completing his post-deployment checks before returning to the ship.
Bravo Zulu to Capt. Fathom and the entire crew of the USS Lincoln!
CAPT. FATHOM - CBS8 NEWS REPORT
Mutts With A Mission was honored to host renowned veterinarian, animal behaviorist, and author Dr. Ian Dunbar earlier this month! Famous for pioneering lure-reward training techniques, Dr. Dunbar spent valuable time with our team, leading interactive Q&A sessions and hands-on training classes. Our Puppy Raisers and staff gained valuable insights from his visit.
We are deeply grateful for his time and expertise, and are looking forward to welcoming him back soon! 🐾
🐾CLICK HERE FOR MWAM 2027 CALENDAR!
A big thank you to our Community Partner, Trane Mid-Atlantic Region (Chesapeake), for making snuffle mats for our Service Dogs in Training (SDiTs).
Our puppies have been hard at work hunting for treats hidden in the mats. Sniffing and foraging naturally activate a dog’s brain, offering a fantastic mental workout that tires them out just as much as physical play. Thank you for your support in enriching their training journey.
We were happy to welcome our Navy Federal Credit Union volunteers to our facility once again! During their two hours with us, they pitched in doing everything from vacuuming our training room floor and freshening up the Puppy Spa to pulling up numerous sand spurs from our outdoor training area.
Thank you, NFCU, for volunteering with us and making such a great impact!
Pictured below: NFCU volunteers are SDiTs Trinity and Opp
If you or your company would like to volunteer with us, contact Liz at liz@muttswithamission.org. 🐾
🍂MISSION MOMENT🎃
Our SDiTs have enjoyed visiting pumpkin patches, running in tall grass, and watching the leaves fall this month. Each adventure our dogs take with their Puppy Raiser is a learning experience. From smells and textures to the distraction of rustling leaves, they are exploring and understanding the world around them, which will prepare them for their future service work.🐾
FOLLOW OUR EXPEDITIONARY FACILITY DOGS (EFDs)
⚓Serving With the U.S. Navy⚓
Click below for EFD Instagram pages
CAPT. FATHOM
USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN 72)
CAPT POSEIDON
USS NIMITZ
(CVN 68)
CAPT RUDDER
USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70)
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