Call it one for the woofs.
Beloved Mets sportscaster Howie Rose, a fixture behind the microphone for four decades, is now tied to a living legacy: a small but spirited golden pup with a big future ahead.
The service dog in training, who has been sharpening his skills at Citi Field, is the first to carry the longtime radio broadcaster’s name — a tribute Rose said means more to him than any bobblehead, plaque or ballpark honor.
“This is right at the top of the list!” Rose told The Post as little Howie rested quietly at his feet.
“It is an honor, it’s a big honor … Veterans give enough of themselves. For the ones who sacrifice limbs or other faculties that render them compromised — to have a beautiful, sweet animal to help them out is a gift from above, really. Dogs are just so loving and so loyal. And aren’t veterans?”
The 4-month-old yellow Lab is the latest pup being raised through the partnership between America’s VetDogs and the Amazin’ Mets Foundation, following in the pawprints of Shea, Seaver and Buddy.
In a twist worthy of baseball irony, Rose is allergic to his furry namesake. He joked that the only thing the two Howies truly have in common is that they both “like meat.”
But America’s VetDogs CEO John Miller said the Mets broadcasting legend and the young service dog share something far more meaningful: a deep sense of loyalty.
“It’s a tribute to Howie Rose’s career and his lifelong commitment to the Mets and the Mets fans. It was a natural thing,” said Miller, who runs the Long Island-based nonprofit.
Rose will officially hang up his microphone in September, but his namesake will continue to patrol Citi Field for the next year — using the chaos of the crowds to eliminate any fears of noise, lights, smells and swarming so that he will be ready for his future veteran.
Little Howie will also receive three months of specialized training for 30 different tasks, ranging from medical episode detection to waking his owner up from a nightmare.
“He’s a very confident dog — Mr. Brave,” said Sarah Zagaja, who is Howie’s official “puppy handler” alongside her husband, Bob.
“Some of the fans can be a little over the top — stopping us, yelling, ‘We need a picture!’ But it’s all fun.”
The couple — who had previously helped to raise Buddy — patrol Howie throughout Citi Field at least two times per week when the Mets are playing.
The tiny, furry critter typically starts his exposure shift on the field during batting practice — unsurprisingly pulling attention from both the fans and the players themselves.
Franscisco Lindor frequently comes over to give Howie a pet on the head, Sarah Zagaja said.
Howie Junior is often stationed at the stadium’s promenade to meet the mob of fans as they swarm inside and seems almost indifferent to the constant “Oos” and “Aws.”
The tiny pup then spends the rest of the game expertly weaving through the crowds of fans dashing from their seats to the bar cart.
For now, fans are allowed to pet and take pictures with the pup — and can even take home a Howie playing card — but the Zagajas warn that come next season, little Howie will be as untouchable as Juan Soto.
“We want every interaction to be positive, and as we interact with the fans, we get to tell the story of what his purpose is and get the message out about what America’s VetDogs does and what the Amazin’ Mets Foundation does,” said Bob Zagaja.
“It’s really a win-win for us, Howie, the fans, the players, and then ultimately the veteran who gets him.”
