America’s VetDogs and Amazin’ Mets Foundation Team Up to Co-Raise Fourth Future Service Dog, “Howie,” Honoring Legendary Mets Broadcaster Howie Rose
For Immediate Release:
Jamie Vullo
Assistant Director of PR & Marketing
America’s VetDogs
[email protected] | 304-839-2551
Katie Agostin
Manager, Communications
New York Mets
[email protected]
Amazin’ Mets Foundation has funded more than $200,000 in grants to America’s VetDogs to date
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, June 25, 2026 (Smithtown, NY) – America’s VetDogs, a New York-based national nonprofit that provides specially trained service dogs to veterans and first responders with disabilities, and the Amazin’ Mets Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the New York Mets led by Alex Cohen, are thrilled to announce they will co-raise a future service dog for a United States veteran or first responder with disabilities. The Amazin’ Mets Foundation has funded more than $200,000 in grants to America’s VetDogs to date. The New York Mets were the first-ever MLB team to raise a future service dog with America’s VetDogs.
Howie is a handsome 11-week-old, male, yellow Labrador Retriever, who will undergo basic training and socialization with the Amazin’ Mets Foundation staff and the New York Mets players and fans for the next 14 to 18 months. The pup will have a home in the Mets front office and attend select events at Citi Field to expose him to various environments that will help mold him into a confident and calm future service dog.
Howie the service dog is named in honor of legendary New York sports broadcaster Howie Rose. As Rose prepares to retire from his play-by-play role following the 2026 Mets season, the naming of future service dog Howie serves as a tribute to his extraordinary career and lasting impact on generations of Mets fans. The name Howie was selected through a vote by Mets employees, further reflecting the deep appreciation across the organization for Rose’s extraordinary career and lasting impact.
“America’s VetDogs is incredibly grateful to Alex Cohen and the Amazin’ Mets Foundation for their continued support,” said John Miller, president and CEO of America’s VetDogs. “The Amazin Mets Foundation’s generosity helps raise and train future service dogs for our nations and communities’ heroes while increasing awareness of the life-changing resources available to them at no cost. It costs America’s VetDogs more than $50,000 to breed, raise, train, and place a service dog, and support from Alex Cohen and the Amazin’ Mets Foundation helps make that possible.”
Fans can meet Howie the service dog at the New York Mets game on Wednesday, July 8, at 7:10 p.m. against the Kansas City Royals. Through the Amazin’ Mets Foundation 50/50 Raffle program, America’s VetDogs was selected as the beneficiary for the evening.
For more on America’s VetDogs and ways to get involved, visit VetDogs.org.
About America’s VetDogs
For more than 20 years, 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 more than $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.
About the Amazin’ Mets Foundation
The Amazin’ Mets Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the New York Mets, led by Alex Cohen. The Foundation is committed to providing needed services and opportunities to children, families, and underserved groups. Since its inception in 2021, the Amazin’ Mets Foundation has funded over $22 million in grants to nonprofit organizations in the areas where the Mets play. Learn more at amazinmetsfoundation.org.
