Photo: NBCSCapitals

Captain, the Washington Capitals team dog and future service dog has become a fan favorite since joining the organization over two months ago. With the new year around the corner, Captain will be getting another furry best friend.

In an NBC Sports Washington clip on Monday, Captain’s handler, Deana Stone, teased that Capitals and Monumental Sports & Entertainment owner Ted Leonsis and his wife, Lynn, are sponsoring and raising a second puppy in 2020.

A special thank you to Ted and Lynn Leonsis whose generous donation to @AmericasVetDogs is making this all possible. @TedLeonsis | @CapsPup #RaisetheGame | #BeMonumental

— Monumental Sports (@MSE) December 16, 2019

We at MSE will do our best over the next year to ensure the new 🐶 is properly trained to become a vital companion to a veteran or first responder with disabilities.

— Monumental Sports (@MSE) December 16, 2019

You can watch the clip here.

Being a part of America’s VetDogs program, an important quality of Captain is his 16-month training to become a service dog for a veteran or first responder with disabilities. Once Captain’s basic training is finished with the team, he will go back to America’s VetDogs, a non-profit organization based in Smithtown, New York, for a few months of final preparations before becoming an official service dog.

catch me on @NBCSWashington for caps pregame tonight !!! pic.twitter.com/9GeSLP6KIw

— Captain (@CapsPup) December 16, 2019

By Della Young