Three rescues which have labored with Puppy Bowl for years share how the participation within the occasion has helped adoptable animals and their work
Linda Davidson / The Washington Post through Getty
A photograph from the sphere of Puppy Bowl IX, which aired in 2013
The Puppy Bowl turns 20 in 2024.
Puppy Bowl XX on Feb. 11 marks 20 years of lovable dogs taking to the sphere to play their model of soccer and lift consciousness about pet adoption.
Hundreds of the occasion’s canine opponents have discovered houses due to the publicity they’ve acquired via Puppy Bowl, and the occasion has benefitted numerous pets and individuals who by no means appeared on the massive sport, too.
In 2008, Amy Heinz began AHeinz57 Pet Rescue and Transport after discovering a canine dumped on an interstate ramp close to her new home within the small city of Adel, Iowa.
“I made a decision to start out a rescue as a result of there was nothing on this space for the strays. They simply shot them. I’m like, ‘That cannot occur to the place I stay,'” she explains.
Related: Meet the Dogs with Special Needs Competing in Puppy Bowl 2024 — the ‘Puppiest’ Puppy Bowl Ever!
The challenge began in Heinz’s storage as a “tiny little rescue,” however then Puppy Bowl got here calling, and issues began to vary.
“In our third yr, I obtained this name, and this man says, ‘Hi, I’m a producer from Animal Planet. We noticed one in every of your puppies on PetFinder, and we might prefer to have it in our Puppy Bowl.’ And I laughed, and I’m like, ‘Ha-ha, who’s this?'” Heinz tells PEOPLE, including, “I had no concept what Puppy Bowl was. I did not have time to observe TV.”
Linda Davidson / The Washington Post through Getty
Behind the scenes at Puppt Bowl IX with referee Dan Schachner
Heinz in the end agreed to take part within the 2013 Puppy Bowl and despatched three puppies to signify the rescue. One of the pups, Marta, received the sport’s MVP award.
“So we obtained all types of media consideration due to it, and we went from this little rescue that only a few folks knew about to simply all of the sudden this enormous factor,” Heinz shares.
“Adoptions went up. Volunteers began pouring in. Everybody wished to be part of it, which was unbelievable,” she provides.
The consideration from Puppy Bowl and Marta’s huge win helped AHeinz57 transfer from Heinz’s storage to a bigger facility.
“It’s been a whirlwind ever since we obtained on the present. We went from my storage and moved to this deserted vet clinic, and now we have now an entire campus. We’re fairly giant. We’re very well-known in Iowa as one of many largest rescues right here,” Heinz says.
The shelter director notes that Puppy Bowl’s impression has affected individual rescues like hers and pet adoption as an entire.
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Puppies enjoying throughout the 2018 Puppy Bowl
“I believe folks perceive extra due to Puppy Bowl. Now, they know you will discover purebred pups in a rescue. People weren’t conscious of that earlier than,” she says.
Tori Canteni, the vp and adoption coordinator for Pack Leaders Rescue in Connecticut, feels equally.
“Puppy Bowl got here in, and all people began realizing, ‘Oh, there are such a lot of rescue dogs,'” she says.
Pack Leaders Rescue has participated in Puppy Bowl for six years and has seen adoptions go from 100 pets to over 2,000 animals a yr.
The Puppy Bowl has additionally helped the rescue make connections with shelters nationwide. At the occasion over the years, Canteni has met rescue staff from California, Puerto Rico, and past, which has helped her build a extra in depth community.
Not solely is attending Puppy Bowl useful, but it surely’s additionally enjoyable!
“We maintain going again as a result of it is a lot enjoyable for the dogs and a lot enjoyable for us to go,” says Laurie Johnson, the director of Florida Little Dog Rescue since 2009
“It’s a extremely constructive expertise. I like that Animal Planet is so centered on the dogs having a great day on set. If a puppy is confused, if a puppy isn’t feeling nice, in the event that they’re simply overwhelmed, no matter, Animal Planet would not push them. It’s by no means about getting the shot; it is all the time about whether or not that puppy is comfy,” she provides.
Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Discovery, Inc.
Two puppy gamers ponder a toy on the Puppy Bowl in 2020.
Florida Little Dog Rescue has had adoptable pups drafted from their rescue and into Puppy Bowl since 2014. The annual expertise continues to be rewarding for Johnson.
“The proven fact that we have been in a position to unfold the phrase that you may get any form of canine in rescue is wonderful,” she says. “So many individuals have this false impression that if a canine’s in rescue, there’s one thing flawed with the canine.”
“Almost 99% of the dogs in rescue are right here as a result of there was one thing flawed with their human, not due to something that they did or might have finished otherwise that may’ve modified their circumstances,” Johnson provides.
She hopes Puppy Bowl continues to encourage animal lovers to hunt their subsequent pet from a rescue.
“The largest factor that I hope folks take away from Puppy Bowl is you may get nearly any canine you might be searching for in rescue. You can discover the following nice member of the family for your loved ones in rescue. Again, it may not be tomorrow, it may not be subsequent Tuesday, possibly it will be subsequent Wednesday. But simply be affected person and take the time and look. The canine you are searching for is on the market,” Johnson says.
For these tuning into this yr’s Puppy Bowl who really feel impressed to assist however aren’t in a position to undertake, Johnson has one other suggestion.
“Rescues are normally restricted by two Fs, funds, and fosters. If you’ll be able to’t foster, contemplate donating to a neighborhood rescue as a result of if you donate regionally, extra of the money goes proper to the dogs,” she shares.
Puppy Bowl followers can see dogs from Florida Little Dog Rescue, AHeinz57 Pet Rescue and Transport, Pack Leaders Rescue, and over 65 different shelters within the 2024 Puppy Bowl, which guarantees to be the “puppiest” Puppy Bowl but.
Puppy Bowl XX will air on Sunday, Feb. 11, at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT and will probably be simulcast throughout Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS, truTV, Max, and discovery+.
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