For animal lovers, Sunday鈥檚 big game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots is a mere after show. The real gridiron action? Animal Planet鈥檚 Puppy Bowl.
Now in its 11th year, the televised show features spaniels, beagles and terriers 鈥減laying鈥 football on a pint-sized model 鈥渟tadium.鈥
This year was the first time the bowl was organized into opposing teams: Team Ruff and Team Fluff. The game had it all: Starting lineups, MVPs, a pregame show and Fantasy Game picks.
Not to leave feline-lovers in the dust, the Kitty Halftime show featured a cat dressed as this year鈥檚 Super Bowl halftime show star Katy Perry 鈥 or in this case, Katty Furry.
It's Katty Furry performing at the Kitty Halftime Show!!
鈥 AnimalPlanet (@AnimalPlanet)
There is also a serious side to Puppy Bowl: The canines that participate come from shelters. Animal Planet says the football extravaganza is a way to promote pet adoption.
Puppies weren鈥檛 the only animals playing for a win on Sunday. Hallmark Channel aired the Kitten Bowl, also to promote the adoption of shelter animals.
Animal lovers (and viewers looking for non-Super Bowl Sunday entertainment) appear to eat it up. In 2014, Puppy Bowl drew 13.5 million viewers, according to The Associated Press.
charlies got big money on team ruff
鈥 icerunnr (@icerunnr)
Controversy at as there are accusations about the dogs using under-inflated chew toys.
鈥 Juan Lozano (@juanlozano70)
Watching the makes me want to rescue all the puppies. All of them are so friggin cute.
鈥 Sarah Thajer (@sarahthajer)