Seventy pooches took the field to win over the “Lombarky” trophy on Sunday, February 7, before the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs battled it out at the Raymond James Stadium for Super Bowl LV in Tampa, Florida.
To keep track of all the action, Team Ruff wore “Tail Mary Tangerine” bandanas, and Team Fluff was seen representing “Bark Blue,” while the one and only Dan Schachner officiated the game as the “rufferee.”
Team Ruff’s Muffin, a terrier mix, came out of his crate strong and scored the very first touchdown after a tackle from Marshall – a hearing-impaired terrier. In fact, Marshall is currently training to be a support dog for a COVID-19 front line nurse, Leaving it no surprise that he received the title of “Most Valuable Pup.”
While many of the pups were giving it their all, Chunky Monkey, a Chow Chow mix, was penalized for “excessive slumber” after getting caught sleeping on the sidelines. Following a long ball game and tug-of-war, Team Ruff took home the grand 2021 Puppy Bowl trophy.
Chunky Monkey is a furever mood.😌
Stream #PuppyBowl on @discoveryplus now ➡️https://t.co/fpJ08WYDKn pic.twitter.com/aaeokpvWwl
— Animal Planet (@AnimalPlanet) February 9, 2021
The players came from 22 shelters and rescue centers from numerous northeastern states. Thankfully, all puppies who have participated have been adopted and found their forever home. However, Animal Plant brought in influential celebrities to spread their mission to adopt and not shop.
Jill Rappaport, an award-winning animal advocate, network journalist, and best-selling author, hosted the Puppy Bowl Subaru segments “Pup Close and Personal,” which showcases heartwarming stories of adoptable puppies. Rappaport hosted several senior dog segments as well.
“I feel honored that I get to host the Subaru “Pup Close and Personal” segments for the Puppy Bowl every year,” says Rappaport in a Celeb Secrets interview. “I love that I get to tell the backstory of how these adorable puppies made it to the gridiron, and many of the stories are quite harrowing – making these little players true miracles.”
Rappaport is also the host of “Rappaport To The Rescue,” a Pet Life Radio podcast all about adoption and rescue. She interviews some of the hottest celebrities from Kristin Bell, Sutton Foster, Emmy Lou Harris, Christie Brinkley, Al Roker, Meredith Vieira, and even Tina Fey will make a guest appearance in the coming weeks.
“They are so passionate and so open about their lives and how the addition of these four-legged angels have made them so much happier and complete,” says the animal advocate.
In addition to Rappaport’s uplifting segment, Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg represented each team as captains and tailgated the big game. The animal lovers crafted their favorite cocktails and shared their secret ingredients.
Coaches @snoopdogg and @marthastewart are in the house! #PuppyBowl pic.twitter.com/UmliZNyUwS
— Animal Planet (@AnimalPlanet) February 8, 2021
To top off the unforgettable 2021 Puppy Bowl, First Lady Jill Biden joined the fun with her furry rescue Major Biden to deliver a message about the importance of dog adoption.
Let us know your favorite part of the Puppy Bowl by leaving a comment below or tweeting us at @CelebSecrets.
