Puppy Bowl XXII pet-time report: Being the '12th man' to our animals
If you’re anything like me, you were glued to the TV on Sunday, watching the players push back and forth. The face-offs, the fumbles, the touchdowns. Obviously, we’re talking about Puppy Bowl XXII ... right?
We all cheered as Bianca took the field. The underdog –– so to speak –– at just 3 months old, she came all the way from the Best Friends Pet Adoption Center in New York City to vie for the Lombarky Trophy. In fact, all the pups came from 72 shelters and rescues from around the country, Puerto Rico, and the British Virgin Islands. Not to mention, it was the first time senior pups were included too. Because they’re all still puppies to us.
All of the pups brought their A-game. And when the trophy was awarded at the end of the day, every puppy on that field was a winner.
Of course, if you happened to tune in to watch the other football game, I was right there with you, too. The Patriots took on the Seahawks in a replay of their 2015 matchup with the Seahawks getting their revenge this time. The Pats may have been without Tom Brady on Sunday, but he couldn't miss the opportunity to show face in the crowd. This supersized Sunday has a way of pulling the whole country together, even when we’re wearing different colors and rooting for different teams.
No matter whom you were cheering for this past weekend, there’s one thing we can all agree on: We want to end the killing of pets in America’s shelters. One brave step forward in this field is making it easier to adopt.
That shared goal is what makes events like the Puppy Bowl about so much more than cute dogs on TV. They create a moment when millions of people are already paying attention — and we can turn that excitement into real lifesaving.
This year, thanks to Animal Planet, we were able to offer fee-waived adoptions at our pet adoption centers from February 2 through 9. That meant more families saying “yes,” more pets going home, and more happy endings simply because one of the biggest barriers to adoption was removed.
The truth is, we know that the adoption fee for an animal is never equal to their capacity for love. My cat Maggie, for example, was all of $0 to adopt from a south Texas animal shelter, but I’d argue her love is worth millions. So reducing this barrier meant that we could get many more pets home to loving families.
Lowering that financial hurdle just gives more people the chance to experience that same kind of joy. And it’s plays like this that inspire me to stay in this game.
In football, they call fans the “12th man” — the extra force on the field that can help carry a team to victory. In animal welfare, that “12th man” is all of us: the adopters, the foster caregivers, the volunteers, the donors, the neighbors who share a post and spread the word. We can all take the field in our own ways.
That’s why events like the Puppy Bowl are so important. We have big names and local shelters throwing their hats in the ring because we all love animals. That is why 2 out of 3 shelters are now no-kill.
Bianca has since been adopted. She is loving her off season settling into a home with her people. But luckily for you, there are Bianca’s all around the country just waiting to go home with a loving family –– the ultimate win.
No-kill is happening. It’s happening because saving lives isn’t just about policies and programs. It’s also about joy, connection, and giving people a reason to fall in love.
So, whether you were cheering for Team Ruff or Team Fluff, let’s keep that energy going.
Let’s keep lowering barriers.
Let’s keep inviting more people in.
Let’s keep being the “12th man” for the dogs and cats who need us most.
Let's Save Them All.
-Julie
