Our Birds might not be within the Super Bowl this yr. But, hey! How about these dogs?
Come February 11, the Delaware Valley area goes to have bragging rights to eight puppies in Puppy Bowl XX — that high-cute-quotient annual occasion that organizers promise to be the “puppiest Puppy Bowl ever.”
This yr’s Animal Planet’s extravaganza will characteristic 131 puppies from 73 animal shelters and rescues throughout 36 states and territories representing Team Ruff or Team Fluff and vying for the coveted Lombarky Trophy.
Our space pups hail from 5 totally different rescues. Happily, the puppies chosen for Puppy Bowl have often discovered houses by the point the present airs, as it’s filmed prematurely. This yr, sport time was truly final October.
But Puppy Bowl’s mission is to encourage folks to consider adoption from rescues and shelters for his or her subsequent furry finest pal and household addition. And, much more than soccer, that’s what these puppies do finest.
Phoenix Animal Rescue in Chester Springs has three puppies on this yr’s Puppy Bowl — all from puppy mills, like 431 of the 551 dogs the rescue took in final yr.
“This is our very first time going to the Puppy Bowl, and we are so happy to have our pups representing puppy mill survivors,” Phoenix’s Marta Gambone. “The boys brought all the drama and action to the filming. They are on opposing teams, so our house is divided, and we are cheering for both team Fluff and Ruff.”
Small Ed, competing on Team Ruff, is a French bulldog who was rejected by his puppy mill breeder as a result of he had an injured eye and was considered unsellable. Phoenix bought his eye handled and now he lives with a household in Broomall.
Bertie, a Boston Terrier recruited onto Team Fluff, was surrendered by a puppy mill seeking to cull its inventory. He was adopted by a Maryland household who takes him swimming, kayaking, and out to eat.
Whistle, a cavapoo, was born with luxating patellas, an issue that impacts the limbs. But that gained’t preserve her from serving as Puppy Bowl’s first doggie referee. She’ll be serving to Puppy Bowl long-time ref Dan Schachner, a former NFL ref. They’ve grow to be a staff in different methods, too. Whistle is being fostered by Schachner and his household of their New York home.
“For those who think they have to turn to breeders for their next companion and friend, we really hope they will give their rescue a try first,” mentioned Gambone, “as you really can find any breed with local groups like us. From doodles of all types, to Frenchies, Bostons, English bulldogs, cavaliers and more, we truly have a dog for everyone.”
This yr, Brandywine Valley SPCA despatched two pups to the Puppy Bowl. Vanessa, a Yorkie on Team Ruff, got here to the shelter by way of an animal cruelty case. Dominic, an American Staffordshire Terrier/American Pit Bull Terrier combine on Team Fluff, got here by way of the company’s Second Chance program the place dogs are introduced from states the place they believed unlikely to be adopted. Both of them now have discovered without end households.
But though Brandywine had puppies within the Puppy Bowl different years, 2024 has introduced the rescue a primary.
“The Brandywine Valley SPCA is so excited because we are the only one who has kittens for the Temptations Skybox,” mentioned BVSPCA communications director Sara Smith.
A fan favourite, they’ll be within the Skybox with commentators Steve Levy and Taylor Rooks. Other rescue neighborhood kittens will probably be within the halftime present.
Moe, a floppy-eared American Pit Bull Terrier on Team Ruff, is the Puppy Bowler for foster-based Renee’s Rescues of Hockessin, Delaware.
Renee Martini, the rescue’s government director and founder, mentioned Moe’s foster household, the Domanskis of Newark, Del., was instrumental in submitting the pup for the Puppy Bowl.
“The kids created a video,” Martini mentioned. “They were jumping for joy when I drove over to tell them” Moe made the Puppy Bowl. Moe has been adopted by a Delaware household who’ve two acres for him to romp on.
Rocky, a Border Collie-Labrador retriever on Team Fluff, got here from Charlie’s Crusaders, which rescues animals from rural Mississippi and Tennessee and adopts them to the Lancaster space. He and his littermates had been orphaned when their mother was run over by a automotive. He’s been adopted by a Pennsylvania couple who pampers him with doggie fashions and takes on runs with them.
Sasha, a Siberian Husky/Perro de Presa Canario combine on Team Fluff, hails from the Providence Animal Center in Media.
Where and the right way to watch the Puppy Bowl
For those that need to get much more into the spirit, some pet-minded emporiums are throwing sport day occasions.
Bark Social, a dogs-welcome bar in Manayunk, is having a Puppy Bowl viewing social gathering. ACCT Philly, town’s open in-take animal shelter, can even be readily available with a few of their rescue pups available for adoption.
The Boozy Mutt, Fairmount’s dog-friendly pub, will probably be internet hosting its Wooder Bowl from 1 to five p.m. on February 11. A fundraiser for ACCT’s Yoda Fund, offering emergency care to needy dogs, there will probably be food and drinks specials, each pup sporting a jersey will earn their person a free dessert, and from that day by way of March 11, $1 for each Bloody Mary, Mimosa, Mulled Wine, and Fairmount Fries will go to ACCT. Adoptable dogs from ACCT can even be part of the festivities.
“We’re really excited to be partnering with the Boozy Mutt and Bark Social, and we’re glad Puppy Bowl is elevating the profile of dogs in need of homes,” mentioned Sarah Barnett, ACCT government director. “We’re looking forward to these events both to raise funds and to have adoptable dogs there so they can find homes and watch the Puppy Bowl next year with their family instead of from a shelter.”
The Puppy Bowl kicks off at 2 p.m. and will probably be simulcast throughout Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS, truTV, Max and discovery+.
