`Puppy Bowl' celebrates a big anniversary this year
NEW YORK >> The annual “Puppy Bowl” turns 20 this year, well over middle age in dog years. But does the sheer cuteness of it really ever get old?
“Who doesn't want to watch dogs play all day long?” asks Laurie Johnson, the director of Florida Little Dog Rescue in St. Cloud, Florida, who has been part of “Puppy Bowl” for a decade.
There are some changes this year to the canine football telecast: Four previous puppy players return to be inducted in the new Puppy Bowl Hall of Fame and the show, which has grown to include armadillos, hedgehogs and chickens, will focus on dogs.
“What we've done this year to flip the whole script is because it's sort of a celebration of the fact that it's the 20th year,” “Puppy Bowl” referee Dan Schachner said. “We've decided to go all in on puppy, making it the “most puppiest `Puppy Bowl' ever.”
The “Puppy Bowl” made its debut as counter-programming to the Super Bowl in 2005. Dogs score touchdowns on a gridiron carpet when they cross the goal line — any goal line — with a toy.
The show is really just an excuse to spend time watching adorable, clumsy pups in colorful sweaters play with chew toys, wag their tails furiously and lick the camera. A deeper reason is to encourage animal adoption.
“We always say the same message every year: Adopt, don't shop,” Schachner said. “There are responsible breeders out there, but it kind of defies logic that somebody who's searching for a dog would look beyond their local shelter or rescue.”
According to the ASPCA, approximately 390,000 shelter dogs are euthanized each year and 2 million shelter dogs are adopted. Schachner says the number of animals languishing in shelters is back up after falling during the pandemic.
“It's worse than ever,” he said.
Florida Little Dog Rescue, which like all puppy groups is vetted by Animal Planet, sent seven pup players and two Hall of Fame inductees. Johnson, who volunteers her time, said it's an honor that Animal Planet picks her pups year after year.
“It does bring attention to our rescue, which helps some of our other dogs get adopted. But, honestly, for us, the biggest excitement is that we're helping dogs all over the country get into homes, because rescue is not a competition, it's a cooperation,” Johnson said.
The point is to show that animals just like the ones on the show can be found at any shelter at any time.