NORFOLK — The Norfolk Admirals and Hampton Roads-based nonprofit Mutts with a Mission recently announced the arrival of Avalanche, a new service dog in training that is being sponsored by the hockey team during the 2025-26 season.
Mutts with a Mission trains service dogs for veterans, first responders and law enforcement members. The group began in 2008 and placed its first service dog in 2009. Since then, it has placed over 100 dogs.
Avalanche, a Greater Swiss mountain dog, will be in training for three years. During the training, she will learn all the necessary skills to be able to help her human if she is chosen as a service dog. From opening and closing doors, turning on lights, carrying items, or alerting to various medical episodes, the training is comprehensive.
Mutts with a Mission also trains dogs to be expeditionary facility dogs, which are dogs that are placed on U.S. Navy ships. Unlike Service Dogs, EFDs are not assigned to an individual. Instead, they are trained to work with entire crews, helping Sailors and Marines reduce stress and strengthen morale onboard.
Although EFDs undergo the same intensive training program, their purpose is distinct: they do not mitigate a single individual’s disability but rather serve the collective mental and emotional resilience of the ship’s company. Currently, Mutts with a Mission is the only organization nationally that trains and places EFDs.
In addition, Mutts with a Mission trains and places facility dogs. A Mutts with a Mission facility dog is a specially trained working dog that operates alongside a qualified professional in a professional setting. Unlike a pet or a comfort animal, a Facility Dog is trained to perform specific, skilled tasks. These dogs are an active part of the facility environment and the community they serve, not just a presence. They are then placed with sworn officers in an agency’s peer support program to assist with resilience and coping in high-stress environments.
According to Mutts with a Mission, the puppy raisers and handlers let the dogs choose which route will work best for them.
“We honor the dog. If the dog wants to be that service dog or that facility dog, we honor that dog’s wishes. Just like people are with picking career paths, they lean one way or another, of what they really enjoy,” Liz Cipolla, a Mutts with a Mission staff member, shared.
Avalanche is the fourth dog that the Admirals have sponsored.
Admirals fans will have the chance to meet Avalanche at an upcoming Mutts with a Mission Game. March 7, Mutts with a Mission will have a table with information and dogs for the public to meet.
The group will also use the appearance at the game as a training tool.
“If you’ve ever been to an Admirals hockey game, you know that they are loud, they are exciting and there’s a lot going on. That kind of environment is really good for training for all of our dogs,” Cipolla added.
Tickets purchased for the March 7 game through this link will provide a $5 donation towards Mutts with a Mission.
To learn more or to donate, visit muttswithamission.org.