The Pittsburgh Pirates today announced the addition of a new, yet to be named, team dog. The Pirates and PNC Bank have teamed up, once again, with Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs to provide an individually trained medical service dog to a military veteran in the Pittsburgh area.

Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, a national non-profit that provides service dogs for individuals affected by permanent disabilities, will raise the puppy and train him in scent, mobility skills and socialization
in public settings for 18 months before being paired with a veteran. Fans can expect to see the furry future service dog at Pirates games and community events, including the Mental Health Action Game May 3. The engagement with fans will expose the pup to the socialization needed to become a service dog.

To make the addition of the new team member even more special, the Pirates are inviting fans to participate in choosing a name for the dog. The winning name will be announced May 6 ahead of the Military Monday game at PNC Park. Fans will have an option to choose between four names: Rookie, Bandit, Homer and Slugger. Name voting is open through Saturday, May 4. Fans can vote on pirates.com/teamdog.

The Pirates and PNC Bank are committed to working together in support of military veterans and are proud to embark on this meaningful effort once more. The first team dog, Bucco, was successfully paired with a military veteran last season.

Pirates fans can follow along for behind-the-scenes glimpses of the dog’s training and PNC Park appearances on Instagram at @piratespup.