NEW YORK — Paws the remote: The Philadelphia Eagles won't be the only local champs appearing on the field Sunday.
For animal lovers, another must-see event — with a slightly smaller, albeit cuter, spread — also will return to the TV screen.
Puppy Bowl XXI will feature 142 rescue puppies from 80 shelters across the United States and two other countries — including 12 from Pennsylvania.
Puppy Bowl XXI will air on Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS, truTV, Max and Discovery+ at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9.Puppy Bowl XXI publicity
It will air on Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS, truTV, Max and Discovery+ at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9.
The star of commonwealth cuties is Saquon Barky, a Bernese Mountain Dog/Australian Shepherd named after Eagles' star running back, Saquon Barkley.
Barky, a member of Team Ruff, is an adopted pooch from Providence Animal Center in Media, Delaware County.
(Because the Puppy Bowl was filmed in the fall, the 12 pooches have since found homes).
Barky, not unlike Barkley, is known for his killer instinct and ability to rush the ball.
Most valuable pup
Team Ruff hopes to win the game for the second time after last year's 72-69 victory against Team Fluff, which was the reigning "Lombarky" trophy winners.
Each year, a pup is crowned MVP — the most valuable player — and the longtime Puppy Bowl referee Dan Schachner will be joined by a puppy assistant, or Rufferee, who will help Schachner bark the fumbles and touchdowns.
Barky will compete against Doodle, who also represents the DelCo pet shelter, and is a member of Team Fluff.
The other Pennsylvania-adopted pooches are Erika (Team Ruff), Sadie (Team Ruff) and Mindy, who is vision-impaired.
Mindy and her Ruff mates represent Brandywine Valley SPCA in Westchester.
Also on the Puppy Bowl roster: Paralee (Team Ruff) and Winston (Team Fluff) from Phoenix Animal Rescue in Chester Springs.
From Animal Friends in Pittsburgh are Centaur (Team Fluff) and Aurelia (Team Fluff) from the Humane Society of Harrisburg.
The last three four-legged cuties are Sully (Team Fluff), Franco (Team Ruff) and Mercury (Team Fluff).
Dog adoption awareness
The Puppy Bowl started in 2005 and highlights the competitors, er, puppies' respective journeys from birth to adoption.
While Teams Ruff and Fluff pull off paw-tastic plays, staff from animal rescues and shelters across the United States will share with viewers the adoption process for cats and dogs in hopes of finding them (or similar versions) forever homes.
According to the ASPCA, 390,000 shelter dogs are euthanized each year and 2 million are adopted.
This year’s three-hour television event will feature 11 special needs dogs — the most the Puppy Bowl has ever had.
For the full Teams Ruff and Fluff roster, visit the Puppy Bowl website.
