Meet The Philly-Area Shelter Dogs In Puppy Bowl XIX

PENNSYLVANIA — The Philadelphia Eagles may be the top seed in the NFC and one of the betting favorites to win the Super Bowl this February, but they aren't the only local team competing on the national stage this postseason.

Numerous young canines from around the greater Philadelphia region and eastern Pennsylvania will compete in the upcoming Puppy Bowl XIX, which features adoptable shelter dogs from around the country.

The disappointingly simple team names, Team Ruff and Team Fluff, do not undermine the seriousness of the competition. The pups will compete for the “Lombarky trophy” in the puppy version of football, played inside a model stadium with color commentary from Animal Planet announcers.

The payoff for the puppies is the equivalent of a lifetime contract for love. The Puppy Bowl was created to increase adoption rates at shelters across the country. So far, it’s 18-0 when it comes to adoption rates.

Puppies from the Philly area competing in this adorable showdown are listed below.

Brandywine Valley SPCA (West Chester)

• Daisy
• Ireland
• Tailen Hurts
• Tia

Center for Animal Health and Welfare (Easton)

• Pierogi

Harley’s Haven Dog Rescue (Perkasie)

• Ritz

Providence Animal Center (Media, PA)

• Gordon
• Chaos

Wet Nose Rescue (Feasterville, PA)

• Amanda

These pups are among 122 featured from 67 shelters and rescues across 34 states. For the first time this year, the Puppy Bowl features a Native American dog rescue group and a puppy player from Dominica, West Indies.

The Puppy Bowl pregame show starts at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on Super Bowl 57 Sunday, with “kickoff” time an hour later at 2 p.m. Like the NFL players, the puppies will try to score a touchdown. Puppy Bowl referees are more forgiving than they are in the NFL, though, because energetic, excited puppies are going to let it play out every chance they get.

Still, they can be benched and replaced with a second-string puppy if they’re called for penalties that can range from “pass inter-fur-ence,” “unnecessary ruffness” and “premature watering of the field.”

The Puppy Cheer Squad will be back, as will fan favorites like footage captured by water bowl, slow motion and end zone pylon cameras. The puppies red-carpet arrivals will also be highlighted.

And while Rihanna headlines the Super Bowl halftime show, the Puppy Bowl will have its own Kitty Halftime Show, giving felines a chance to take center stage. MVP and “Underdog” awards will also be handed out.