BETHESDA, Md. — There's a new corporal in town over at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Biscuit the service dog was officially welcomed as the seventh facility dog at the medical center.
The 2-year-old chocolate lab just completed his service dog training requirements and was sworn-in to his post in an enlistment ceremony Tuesday. He was awarded the honorary title of U.S. Marine Corps Corporal. Attendees included Walter Reed patients and staff, Biscuit's handler -- a retired Air Force sergeant -- and Washington Capitals players Nic Dowd and Beck Malenstyn.
Biscuit began his basic training with the Caps in September 2021, where he attended home games and some community events to get socialized and confident. The program is run in conjunction with America’s VetDogs in New York, where the dogs undergo formal training.
Now that he is official, Biscuit will serve alongisde Sully H.W. Bush -- who was a service dog for George H.W. Bush -- visiting patients in an attempt to ease their stress and enhance the overall wellbeing of all those who are recovering, or working, at the medical center.
Biscuit is the NHL team's second service dog. The first dog, Captain, found his forever home in Saint Leonard, Maryland in June 2021, as a service dog for retired U.S. Marine Corps Master Sgt. Mark Gwathmey. Captain was trained to assist Gwathmey with several tasks to help mitigate the veteran’s disability, including retrieving dropped items, counterbalance, summoning assistance, seizure response, positional cues to extend personal space and PTSD cues such as rest, nightmare interruption and shake.
Captain made his own debut with the team in 2019, and completed similar training to what Biscuit will undergo, while being raised by America's VetDogs area coordinator Deana Stone.
“I’m blessed that the Capitals sponsored him," Mark Gwathmey said. "I’m fortunate to have him as my sidekick and my service dog."