Atlanta United partners with America’s VetDogs to raise future service dog ‘Spike’

First-ever MLS club service dog will be trained and placed with disabled U.S. veteran
 
ATLANTA (Jan. 23, 2020) – Atlanta United today announced the club has partnered with America’s VetDogs, a New York-based nonprofit organization that provides service dogs to U.S. veterans, active-duty service members and first responders with disabilities. Through this partnership, Atlanta United will be co-raising Spike, a 12-week-old Labrador retriever, who will be trained in the Atlanta area for the next 14-16 months with the purpose of becoming a service dog.  Spike is the first service dog to represent a Major League Soccer club.

“One of the pillars of our club and a priority for the Blank Family of Businesses is giving back to the community,” Atlanta United President Darren Eales said. “It is always a privilege to be able to support our Armed Forces. This partnership allows us to be a part of a program that serves veterans while also educating our supporters and raising awareness about the incredible work of the America’s VetDogs organization. We are excited to welcome Spike into our family and can’t wait to introduce him to our fans.”

To learn more about the partnership and Spike’s journey, visit atlutd.com/pup. You can also follow him at @ATLUTDPup on Instagram and Twitter. Media assets can be found here.

“America’s VetDogs is thrilled to partner with Atlanta United FC on co-raising the team and leagues’ first future service dog,” said John Miller, president & CEO of America’s VetDogs. “Atlanta United’s passion for supporting our nation’s heroes aligns with our mission to provide trained service dogs for veterans and first responders with disabilities. This opportunity offers a unique environment for Spike to grow and thrive in. A well-socialized puppy will have fewer adjustments to make when he returns back to VetDogs for advanced service dog training. When it’s time, that confidence will help someone with disabilities conquer any challenges they may face together as a team.”

During his initial training phase, Spike, named after Atlanta United’s “Golden Spike” tradition at its home matches, will live with an Atlanta-based volunteer puppy raiser selected by America’s VetDogs. Following his puppy raising, Spike will return to the America's VetDogs campus in Smithtown, New York, to begin his advanced service dog training with a certified service dog instructor. When his training is complete, Spike will be matched and placed with a veteran or first responder with disabilities. It costs over $50,000 to raise, train, and place one assistance dog; however, all of VetDogs’ services are provided at no charge to the individual.  Funding comes from the generosity of individuals, businesses, and community organizations.

Fans will have opportunities to interact with Spike at select Atlanta United matches and community events throughout the year as exposure to a variety of environments is necessary during the detailed training process.

For more on America’s VetDogs and ways to get involved, visit VetDogs.org.

PLAYER PROFILE
Name: Spike
Position: Service dog in training
Birthdate: Oct. 25, 2019 (age: 12 weeks)
Birthplace: Smithtown, New York
Nationality: USA
Breed: Yellow Labrador Retriever
Transaction: Atlanta United signs Spike Jan. 23, 2020

ABOUT ATLANTA UNITED
Atlanta United joined Major League Soccer in 2017 and won the 2018 MLS Cup in just its second season, the earliest an expansion team has won the title since 1998.  The club has set multiple league records including season tickets sales (36,000-plus), single-game attendance (72,548), single-season average (53,002) and total home attendance (901,033). Owned by Arthur M. Blank, and led by club President Darren Eales, Atlanta United plays its home matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. For more information about Atlanta United, including how to purchase season tickets, visit: www.atlutd.com, and follow @ATLUTD.

ABOUT AMERICA’S VETDOGS
Since 2003, America's VetDogs (www.VetDogs.org) has trained and placed guide and service dogs to provide independence, enhanced mobility, and companionship to veterans with disabilities from all eras. In 2015, VetDogs opened its programs to first responders, including fire, police, and emergency medical personnel. America's VetDogs is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded by the Guide Dog Foundation and serves clients from across the United States. VetDogs relies on contributions from generous individuals, corporations, service clubs, and foundations to fund its mission to help those who have served our country live with dignity and independence. It costs over $50,000 to breed, raise, train, and place one assistance dog, but America's VetDogs provides its services completely free of charge to the individual. America's VetDogs has been accredited by both the International Guide Dog Federation and Assistance Dogs International. 

Hey Y'all, I'm Spike the new Puppy with a Purpose being raised with the help of the Atlanta United. 

I'm very excited to be picked up by Atlanta United for this upcoming season. The team welcomed me with open arms, but how could they not with a name like Spike. I can't wait to meet all of you when I'm overseeing practices, attending special events, or cheering the team on at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Check you out later!

Spike's Player Profile

Name: Spike
Position: Service dog in training
Birthdate: Oct. 25, 2019 (age: 12 weeks)
Birthplace: Smithtown, New York
Nationality: USA
Breed: Yellow Labrador Retriever
Transaction: Atlanta United signs Spike Jan. 23, 2020

Meet Lyndsee Hewston 

Lyndsee Hewston grew up in Great Falls, Virginia outside of Washington, D.C.. She has always held a deep affection for animals, especially dogs, and worked at an animal hospital near her childhood home throughout high school and during the summers when home from college. Lyndsee attended Auburn University in Alabama where she met her husband Drew.  The couple married in 2016 and have expanded their family to include a black Labrador retriever, Goose, and thoroughbred horse, Forrest. 

After graduating college, Lyndsee and Drew moved to Atlanta, Georgia and fell in love with the city. The couple currently resides in Alpharetta, Georgia where Lyndsee is a sales representative for a world-renowned higher education company working with many Georgia universities and colleges in and around Atlanta. 

Lyndsee first sparked her interest in raising for the Guide Dog Foundation when she was interning for a US Congressman in Washington, D.C. where she encountered a handler and guide dog on the DC metro.  She was fascinated as she watched the pair board the train and safely find an empty seat and exit the metro car safely at the handlers exit. It was that moment Lyndsee knew that she had to be a part of this journey in some way, so soon after, she met a fellow puppy raiser and jumped into action. In January 2018, she began to attend puppy raiser meetings for the Guide Dog Foundation outside of Atlanta while simultaneously puppy sitting the Foundations pups when needed. Her greatest, and most prized, accomplishment to date is raising her first puppy for the Guide Dog Foundation, Shirley, which she received in July 2018. 

Lyndsee volunteered for the “puppy with a purpose” program because she believes in its mission and in the independence these dogs provide for their handlers. She is excited to share her puppy raising passion and experience and looks forward to helping others. 

Get your Spike here!