MVP: “This year’s Puppy Bowl Bissell “Most Valuable Puppy” prize goes to the most courageous pooch on the field“
The following written content by Lindsay Deutsch
Before the battle for Super Bowl glory was decided Sunday, there already was a winner — a cuddly and feisty one, for the cutest showing of athleticism.
This year’s Puppy Bowl Bissell “Most Valuable Puppy” prize goes to the most courageous pooch on the field: Marta, a Schnauzer/Beagle mix, from the adoption organization AHeinz57 Pet Rescue & Transport. She out-hustled and out-muscled dogs twice her size to take the MVP title.
“Marta’s tiny, but she’s not delicate, and she is deceptively athletic, which kind of tricked the bigger dogs,” says Daniel Schachner, who acted as “The Ref” on the field. It was his job to call puppy penalties including whining, illegal napping (“That was a big one this year”) and excessive cuteness (“when the burly cameramen stop what they’re doing to say ‘awww,’ that’s when you know”).
Here are some highlights from the game, and facts about the show from Schachner:
— It’s not just adorable puppies on display. Hedgehog cheerleaders pump the crowd up with pom-pons, and high above the stadium, intrepid hamster pilots will give a “hamster’s eye view” in the blimp. And Meep the bird tweeted live throughout the game, literally.
— After the puppies get an introduction, they’re off! Who’s in the starting lineup? Highlights include a 12-week old dachshund mix named Harry and his soulmate, 12-week old sachshund-basset mix, Sally. Can’t forget siblings Simba and Nala!
— It’s a tug-of-war! Puppies Fitz and Nala fight for a toy until Fitz falls into the “hydration station.” Meanwhile, dachshund Harry and Sally tussle on the field. The two-hour show features puppy love and fights, but no excessive “ruffness.”
— Shelters see a big spike in adoptions surrounding the Puppy Bowl. Sixty-three puppies participated this year from shelters around the country. In the past, all have been adopted, and this year is no exception. “These puppies get scooped up quickly. We’ve teamed up with petfinder.com that will match viewers to puppies in their area,” says Schachner. Read more from USA Today.
