Georgia Rescue Dog To Star In Puppy Bowl 2022: Meet Benny, The Labradoodle On Wheels

SMYRNA, GA — Whether you’re a football fan or not, one thing we can all agree to watch ahead of the Super Bowl is the showdown of adorable proportions between Team Ruff and Team Fluff in Animal Planet’s annual Puppy Bowl.

And this year, an adoptable pooch from Smyrna will be strutting his stuff on the field, treating us to all the ear pulls, tail tugs and sloppy kisses we can handle.

Now in its 18th year, Puppy Bowl features adoptable pets from rescue shelters across the United States. This year’s three-hour event is scheduled to air Feb. 13 at 2 p.m. ET, just a few hours before Super Bowl LVI.

In all, more than 100 puppy players will participate, representing 67 shelters and animal rescue groups from 33 states.

Aside from the obvious appeal of watching fluffy, huggable puppies tumble over one another as they chase a ball and try to score a touchdown, residents of Smyrna have extra incentive to watch this year.

One puppy from Bosley's Place in Smyrna will be featured in this year’s chewable challenge.

Bosley's Place Inc. — founded in 2014 by Jennifer Siegel — is a nursery and sanctuary for neonatal and underage homeless and orphaned puppies. Benny came to Bosley's Place when he was just two weeks old.

Benny's breeder surrendered him after noticing that his hind legs were not developing like his siblings, and the breeder knew Bosley's Place specialized in cases like Benny's.

The rescue consulted its vet and learned Benny had an abnormal, inoperable spinal deformity — one that has never been seen or written about in any textbook, according to a news release. With this information, Bosley's Place developed a plan to give Benny the best life possible.

"From the time he joined Bosley’s Place, they all knew he was special. It’s as if he was born smiling, never allowing his deformity to be a deficiency," the release said. "Over the last year he has far exceeded their expectations and been an incredible source of inspiration and happiness for people all over the world."

The Puppy Bowl XVIII Pre-Game Show begins at 1 p.m. ET where fan-favorite sportscasters Rodt Weiler, Sheena Inu, and James Hound, as well as field reporters Mini Pinscher and Greta Dane, will provide the inside scoop on this year’s Puppy Bowl draft.

So far, the Puppy Bowl is 17-0 when it comes to adoption rates. Since its inception, 100 percent of all puppy players have found their forever homes, according to a news release from Animal Planet.

Here’s a look at some beloved traditions returning to year’s Puppy Bowl:

• Put your paws together midway through the game for the Kitty Half-Time Show as adoptable kittens dance their way through a purr-fect beach party.

• Fans can expect a return of favorite elements including slow-motion replays, nose-to-nose action from the famous Water Bowl Cam, and aerial shots of the field.

• Joining the game for the 11th year is “Rufferee” Dan Schachner, who is ready to call the puppy penalties and touchdowns.

• Puppy Bowl players will again be cheered on from the sidelines by adoptable puppy cheerleaders.

To learn more about the puppy players, their shelters, and other ways to help, visit Puppybowl.com/Adopt during the Puppy Bowl.