Puppy Bowl 2022: New Jersey Dogs Featured On Animal Planet

NEW JERSEY — 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, adoptable pooches from New Jersey will be strutting their 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 New Jersey have extra incentive to watch this year.

Two puppies from Jersey Girls Animal Rescue will be featured in this year’s chewable challenge.

The non-profit committed to saving the lives of animals whose lives are in danger will be sending Faye and Minnie for the Puppy Bowl.

Four dogs from Match Dog Rescue in Marlton will also be featured.

Match Dog will be sending over Ocean, Scotty, Tucker and Ranger (Cheerleader). Match Dog Rescue is a personal canine rescue community committed to rescuing at-risk dogs from high kill shelters, providing temporary safe homes through their volunteer foster program and much more.

Lastly, two dogs will be sent from Tri-State Basset Hound Rescue in Deepwater, NJ.

Dinozzo and Watson were chosen for the Puppy Bowl this year. Tri-State Basset Hound Rescue is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and re-homing Basset Hounds and Basset Hound-Mixes.

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.