It’s been a difficult few months (or year), so let us here at Nerdist provide you with a little bit of brain bleach: Animal Planet is hosting the very first Dog Bowl in addition to the Puppy Bowl, all in the name of highlighting the importance of adopting sweet older dogs as well as cute puppies. Cue the “awwws” in 3 … 2 … 1 …
The network known for its annual Super Bowl counter programming Puppy Bowl (and its less-popular offshoot Kitten Bowl because in the age-old debate of dogs vs. cats, there is always a clear, obvious winner) will premiere Puppy Bowl Presents: The Dog Bowl in early 2018. This newly added furry football competition is created for adult dogs living in rescues and shelters, because they are frequently passed over for their younger brothers and sisters when it comes to adoption. It’s so sad because everyone knows that older, adult dogs are really the best dogs. Who doesn’t want a chill older pooch to hang with while all the younger, rambunctious youth dogs drive their owners crazy with their nonstop energy? Lazy people looking for the perfect pet best friend, this special is tailor made for you.
As a companion to Puppy Bowl, The Dog Bowl will air during Animal Planet’s Road to Puppy Bowl leading up to the network’s premiere of Puppy Bowl XIV. This one-hour special will feature all adoptable adult dogs in need of their forever homes and will be hosted by award-winning animal advocate Jill Rappaport.
When it comes to drafting all the players who will be featured in Puppy Bowl Presents: The Dog Bowl, Animal Planet is working with shelters and rescue organizations all over the U.S. to fill the rosters of players. There will be two teams of adult dogs “going nose to nose for touchdowns, furry fumbles and ultimately the win,” which sounds too cute for words, you guys.
And the best part? This special isn’t just exploiting the cuteness of these good boys (and girls) for ratings, because all the players will be winners in the end as they find their “forever homes.” Watching cool older dogs play on TV, knowing they’re going to find their forever homes, is honestly exactly what the world needs right now.
“Puppy Bowl‘s goal is to promote animal adoption so as many animals as possible can find their forever homes,” Patrice Andrews, General Manager of Animal Planet, says in a release.
As much fun as watching Puppy Bowl Presents: The Dog Bowl will be, the true purpose of the Puppy Bowl (finding homes for animals needing adoption) is something we can all get behind. And the newest piece of Puppy Bowl programming brings much needed attention to the fact that puppies in rescue organizations and shelters get adopted much more than older, adult dogs, which is almost too sad for words. There are millions of adult dogs who live in shelters for longer periods of time than puppies as they wait to be adopted … and that’s too heartbreaking to think about. So watch the Dog Bowl, adopt an older dog and bring some good into this world, people. Consider that an order.
Image: Animal Planet
