Minnesota Wild welcomes rescue dog Hobey to the team

The Minnesota Wild continued its Adopt-A-Dog program with a five-month-old golden retriever named Hobey. It’s the second year the team has donated a dog to a retired or discharged service person.

"We’re excited to continue our Adopt-A-Dog program and help another rescue dog become a service dog," says Wayne Petersen, Minnesota Wild Director of Community Relations and Hockey Partnerships.

***Click the video box to see extended footage and interview with Wayne Petersen of the Minnesota Wild regarding the Adopt-A-Dog program***

This marks the second time the Wild has adopted a dog from Coco’s Heart Dog Rescue. Breezer, a labrador retriever, was adopted last August and is now training with Soldier’s 6, a 501(c)3 non-profit based in Minnesota that provides honorably discharged veterans, police officers, and firefighters with specially trained K-9s.

Minnesota Wild Chief Financial Officer Jeff Pellegrom and his wife, Mary, will foster Hobey and help facilitate basic obedience training until the summer of 2021. Following his tenure with the Wild, Hobey will pursue a career training with Soldier’s 6. At the conclusion of his specialized training, Hobey will be permanently placed with a veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a "Battle Buddy" and will help guide them through the difficult days in life.

Hobey was at the Royal Golf Club in Lake Elmo in honor of the Hobey Baker Award ceremony and golf outing for Scott Perunovich of UMD, who won this year’s award.