Every year on Super Bowl Sunday, millions of people tune in for the true sporting event of the year: the Puppy Bowl!
The Puppy Bowl is an annual event where puppies run around on a small football field set, playing with toys. Announcers provide play-by-play coverage just like a football game. If a puppy has a toy and runs into the endzone, it’s a touchdown. This year, Puppy Bowl XXII featured 150 adorable and adoptable pups, including four from the Des Moines area.
Asiago, Boopsie (a.k.a Dottie) and Dandelion (a.k.a Mochi) played for Team Ruff, while Atticus Finch played for Team Fluff. All four of these metro puppies were previously under the care of AHeinz 57 Pet Rescue and Transport, which operates in De Soto, Iowa. While these four puppy players have been adopted, there are still so many sweet animals at AHeinz 57 waiting for their forever homes.
The part I love most about the Puppy Bowl is its message. The Puppy Bowl promotes “Adopt, Don’t Shop” and showcases amazing puppies from all over the country. Not only does the Puppy Bowl showcase specific puppies competing on behalf of rescues all across the country, but it also drives people to their websites. Even though the Puppy Bowl players may have been adopted, the audience gets a chance to see other adoptable pups from these rescues.
This happened to be the case for the four Iowa pups. Captivated by the local puppies, I took to the internet, looking to see if they were available. Instead, I scoured the website, looking at all of the cute puppies and adorable kittens.
That’s right, it isn’t just puppies, either — the Puppy Bowl also highlights kittens every year. There is a kitty skybox in the stadium, sponsored by Temptations cat treats, where the audience can check in and see how the kittens are feeling after certain plays. Not only are they adoptable, but they also traditionally serve as the halftime show.
As a proud cat owner, I love the kitty halftime show — it is always a cute moment to watch all of these kittens run around, play and perform.
This year was different, as the famous Kitty Halftime Show was swapped out for something new: a Senior Pup Playoff. Oldies versus Goldies took the field for the first time in Puppy Bowl history for a special halftime exhibition match. This brought special attention to senior pups waiting to be adopted as well.
Kittens joined the senior dogs on the field, just not as performers. The kitty cheerleaders seemed to love the halftime game, dancing around in their tutus.
Team Fluff won for the second year in a row, with a final score of 73-69 over Team Ruff. It was Team Fluff’s Twilight Barkle, a special needs pup from Hearts and Bones Rescue in Dallas, who made the final touchdown with seconds to spare. Referee Dan Schnachner presented the award to Team Fluff captain Meeko. Team Fluff took home the coveted Lombarki Trophy, an award named after the Lombardi Trophy presented to the winner of the Super Bowl.
Since the same two teams play each year, I have always been a Team Fluff supporter. I was stoked for them to win two years in a row.
The Lombarki Trophy wasn’t the only award given out that day, as there were two more big winners of the game. Team Ruff’s Remy won the Underdog Award, while Team Fluff’s Boba won the Most Valuable Puppy Award.
At the end of every Puppy Bowl, Animal Planet runs footage of all the animals that have been adopted. Since the Puppy Bowl is always filmed ahead of time, they have photos and videos of the puppies in their forever homes. It is by far my favorite part of the show because it shows that it works.
So, when Super Bowl Sunday comes around next year, grab your snacks and your furry friends while you tune in to Animal Planet and cheer for your favorite pups! Don’t worry, sports fans — the Puppy Bowl is hours before the Super Bowl, so you don’t have to miss either showdown.
