TAMPA BAY - The Tampa Bay Lightning introduced its new team ambassador, a yellow lab puppy named Bolt, from Southeastern Guide Dogs today. The newest member of the Lightning will help make a "paw-sitive" impact on Bolts Nation. He can be found on Instagram and Twitter at @BoltsPup.

Bolt, born March 31, 2019, weighing 28.5 pounds, will serve as a team ambassador while also training to be a service dog when his Lightning career is over. He spent the first 12 weeks of his life in the Grant and Shirley Herron Puppy Academy at Southeastern Guide Dogs. After 12 weeks, Bolt left for boarding school with a designated "Puppy Raiser" from the Lightning organization. In a year Bolt will return to Southeastern Guide Dogs to continue his education and eventually begin his career as a service dog with a courageous person who needs him.

Southeastern Guide Dogs transforms lives by creating and nurturing extraordinary partnerships between people and dogs. The organization employs some of the most talented and innovative scientists and trainers in the working-dog industry and operates the most advanced training facilities of any service dog organization in the world. Their experts train guide dogs, service dogs and skilled companion dogs for people with visual impairments, veterans with disabilities and children with significant challenges such as vision loss or loss of a parent in the military.

All of Southeastern Guide Dogs' services-which include selective breeding and expert dog training and conditioning; comprehensive on-campus student instruction; and lifetime alumni support-are provided at no cost to the recipients. Southeastern Guide Dogs relies 100 percent on private donations and receives no government funding. Southeastern Guide Dogs has the distinction of being dually accredited by the two premier, global accreditation bodies: the International Guide Dog Federation and Assistance Dogs International. Fans can learn more at www.GuideDogs.org.