February 12th is Super Bowl Sunday! For those uninterested in the big game, there is a cuter, fluffier, alternative. I am, of course, referring to the Puppy Bowl! 

This year is Puppy Bowl XIX. The program has aired every year, starting in 2005. Since then, there have been many changes to the show, but one thing that has remained constant are the adorable puppies. Each year, the program features more and more puppies, which are lent from animal shelters all across the country. These dogs are all adoptable (at the time of filming due to the fact that recording takes place months prior to the big event). The inclusion of adoptable dogs is meant to spread awareness to viewers about the large number of animals in shelters waiting to be welcomed into their furever homes. Going back to the show’s changes, there was a very notable one in 2015 with the inclusion of teams, bringing in a whole new competitive aspect. In addition, there have also been changes throughout the years to the animals that are showcased as cheerleaders cheering on their favorite teams. In the past, there have been penguin, goat, hedgehog, and even armadillo cheerleaders. These animals are brought on to the field to perform their “cheer routines” which often involve various props. Other featured animals include a cockatiel named Meep who goes on Twitter and makes “tweets” during the game, and a group of hamsters that fly a blimp around the arena. 

Just like an actual football game, there are two teams: Team Ruff and Team Fluff. Each dog wears a bandana that matches the color of their team, to avoid confusion. The goal of the game is for the pups to carry toys to either endzone in order to score a touchdown for their team. This is all in an effort to win the coveted Vince Lombarky trophy, which usually takes the form of some dog-related item such as a bone or fire hydrant, with a football on top. The players also have the opportunity to be crowned as the “Most Valuable Pup,” the “Underdog,” and the “Most Pupular.” Voting for the “Most Pupular” title takes place during the weeks prior to the show through a bracket style method. This year’s winner is “Josh Allenhound.” To make the game even more official, there is a referee whose job is to make sure that the game is being played fairly. To do this, he might hand out penalties, and call timeouts if there is any unnecessary “ruff-ness.” 

For all the cat-lovers out there, be sure to tune in to watch the game’s “kitty halftime show” The show consists of cats frolicking around the field on elaborate sets playing with different toys. The sets generally have some sort of theme such as “Godzilla” or a beach a party. All of these cats are lent from shelters and also up for adoption at the time of filming. 

To witness adorable puppy playtime and inspiring rescue stories, be sure to tune in to watch the Puppy Bowl at 2pm ET on Animal Planet, or stream it on Discovery+. There will also be a pre-show airing at 1pm ET.