By Evelyn Cordon
Published Jan. 29, 2024, 10:28 a.m. ET

Place your bets! The 2024 Puppy Bowl is just around the corner -- and the game is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The three-hour matchup will see Team Ruff take on Team Fluff compete, which includes 131 dogs from 73 shelters across the country. This year, there will be six dogs with special needs also participating. The annual televised program helps to raise awareness about adopting pets from shelters and rescuing abandoned animals. "Puppies are taking over the show's production by operating the cameras and lighting, directing from the control room, stage managing on the studio floor," Warner Bros. Discovery said in a statement. Puppy Bowl XX will be conducted by referee Dan Schachner, who has judged the contest for the last 13 years. The big match -- which is on ahead of Super Bowl LVIII -- airs on Sunday, Feb. 11, on Animal Planet, Discovery, Discovery +, TBS, TruTv and Max at 2 p.m. ET.

BY PJ KENNEDY  JANUARY 25, 2024
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​Lucky Dog Refuge celebrates three of its rescue puppies making a splash in this year’s Puppy Bowl XX on Animal Planet. Rebekah, Inez, and Betty are representing the Stamford-based rescue in the 20th year of the highly-anticipated Puppy Bowl on Sunday, February 11, 2024 at 2PM ET.
The three rescue puppies were destined for the spotlight when they were named after characters in Taylor Swift’s hit songs. Inez and Betty are mentioned in the song “betty” and Rebekah is in “the last great american dynasty.” This was before anyone knew Swift would become football’s biggest cheerleader and make headlines every time she attends one of the Kansas City Chiefs games to support Travis Kelce. We don’t know yet if Kelce or Swift will be at the Super Bowl, but we know these pups will shine in the Puppy Bowl!
Rebekah’s journey is the perfect example of Lucky Dog Refuge’s mission. She was found in Mississippi as a puppy just a few weeks old suffering from a terrible femoral fracture that needed expensive surgery to repair. She now lives with her adopted rescue sister, Kiki, who was also adopted from Lucky Dog Refuge and, coincidentally, also needed surgery for a femoral fracture. Both are living the happy lives they deserve thanks to Lucky Dog Refuge stepping in and covering the medical expenses. This wouldn’t be possible without generous donations to support Lucky Dog Refuge.
Inez (Team Fluff) and Betty (Team Ruff) are sisters who are finding their competitive side as they play on separate teams at the Puppy Bowl. Will Team Ruff or Team Fluff take home the “Lombarky” trophy?
Lucky Dog Refuge will be hosting a Puppy Bowl Watch Party at Third Place by Half Full Brewery on Sunday, February 11, 2024 starting at 2PM ET. Supporters can bring their own dogs to enjoy the game, meet the stars of the show, and meet adoptable dogs as well.
Last year was Lucky Dog Refuge’s debut in the big game, with a husky mix named Twinkle representing the rescue. Twinkle (now named Emma) was adopted by the shelter’s co-founder, Maria Mende, and lives in Darien with her four rescue siblings.
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Meet the Stars:

Rebekah
Breed: German Shepherd / Neapolitan Mastiff mix | Team Ruff
Rebekah was found in Mississippi by a local rescuer who encountered people selling puppies at a gas station. This little puppy didn’t sell, and they abandoned her there. At just a few weeks old, Rebekah had a fractured femur and needed surgery to put a pin in it. Lucky Dog Refuge stepped in to cover all the medical care she needed to be a happy, healthy puppy. Then she made the journey to Connecticut, starred in the Puppy Bowl, and found her furever home!
Rebekah (now named Poppy) was adopted by a wonderful family in Stamford who had previously adopted another dog named Kiki from Lucky Dog Refuge! The two are nearly identical in appearance and backstories. Kiki was also rescued by LDR after a terrible femoral fracture that needed surgery. Thanks to the donations of LDR supporters, both Kiki and Poppy received the medical care they needed to have the happy, carefree lives they deserve!

by: Courtney Ingalls
Posted: Jan 18, 2024 / 08:45 AM EST
Updated: Jan 19, 2024 / 05:22 AM EST
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HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) – The annual Puppy Bowl is celebrating its 20th year and will feature 131 puppies, including 13 from Connecticut!
This popular match-up is the longest-running call-to-adoption television event and will showcase puppies from Team Ruff and Team Fluff as they compete for the “Lombarky” trophy. The event also highlights the work of rescues and shelters across the country.
Puppy Bowl XX will take place on Feb. 11 at 2 p.m. on Animal Planet.
If you plan to watch the feel-good events, here are some local players that you can root for!

​ANDREW DAROSA, STAFF WRITER
Jan. 17, 2024
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Thirteen Connecticut rescue pups will square off to bring their team — Team Ruff or Team Fluff — to victory and have a shot winning the "Lombarky” trophy in the upcoming Puppy Bowl. 
Seven Connecticut shelters will be represented at this year's Puppy Bowl: American Lab Rescue, Connecticut Humane Society, Danbury Animal Welfare Society, Dog Star Rescue, Lucky Dog Refuge, Pack Leaders Refuge of CT and Ridgefield Operation for Animal Rescue, according to a news release. Last year, nine pups from Connecticut made the team.
The Puppy Bowl aims to highlight the efforts of rescue and shelter workers helping animals find new homes, the news release said. Puppy Bowl XX features 131 puppies, and 73 shelters and rescues from 36 states.
Some puppies will be "manning the control room," a bit in the show that will feature pups stationed next to lighting panels and cameras as they "control" them, according to a spokesperson for the Puppy Bowl. Longtime referee Dan Schachner will return this year to mark his thirteenth year overseeing the Puppy Bowl. Schachner will have his own puppy assistant coach on the sidelines. As with previous years, the Kitty Halftime Show will take center stage during intermission.
In celebration of the twentieth Puppy Bowl, four previous Puppy Bowl players will return to the gridiron to be inducted into the new Puppy Bowl Hall of Fame. 
Puppy Bowl XX will take place on Sunday, Feb. 11 at 2 p.m., and will air on Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS, TruTV, discovery + and Max.
Scroll below to see which Connecticut dogs are participating in this year's Puppy Bowl.

By STAFF REPORT
PUBLISHED: January 16, 2024 at 10:21 a.m. | UPDATED: January 16, 2024 at 1:26 p.m.
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The Puppy Bowl enters its 20th iteration this year, and several Connecticut pooches have made the cut for the big game, according to the organization.
This year’s local puppies come from a mix of different shelters across the state: American Lab Rescue in Willington, Connecticut Humane Society in Newington, Danbury Animal Welfare Society, Dog Star in Canton, Lucky Dog Refuge in Stamford, Pack Leaders of CT in East Hartford, and ROAR in Ridgefield.
“The three-hour television matchup will be the biggest yet, featuring 131 puppies, 73 shelters and rescues across 36 states and territories – including the all-time smallest pup, Sweetpea, at 1.7 lbs and the biggest, Levi the Great Dane at 72 lbs,” according to a release.
Here’s a sneak peek of every CT puppy playing in Puppy Bowl XX (as well as the shelter they come from). You can catch the action Sunday, Feb. 11 on Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS, discovery+, and Max.

Check out the cuddly pups set for action in this year's Puppy Bowl, which returns for a 20th year on Feb. 11 on Discovery+, Max, and Animal Planet.
By Wesley Stenzel Published on January 12, 2024
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​The Puppy Bowl is right around the corner, and there are more dogs than ever competing in this year’s extra-paw-ganza. The three-hour matchup will see 131 puppies from 73 shelters and rescues across 36 states and territories. The game is celebrating its 20th anniversary, so to spice up the proceedings for the momentous occasion, Warner Bros. Discovery has announced that “puppies are taking over the show’s production by operating the cameras and lighting, directing from the control room, stage managing on the studio floor and even coaching Team Ruff and Team Fluff.” We’ll also see the smallest and biggest puppies ever featured in a Puppy Bowl this year: Sweetpea weighs just 1.7 lbs, while Levi the Great Dane weighs 72 lbs.
Check out our gallery below to meet all the very good boys and girls competing in the 2024 Puppy Bowl.

Lucky Dog Refuge (Stamford, Conn.)

​Lucky Dog Refuge (Stamford, Conn.)

 Lucky Dog Refuge (Stamford, Conn.)

On Sunday, February 11th, these puppies can't wait to show off their moves on the field for PUPPY BOWL XX! Here's the 2024 full player line up from Team Ruff and Team Fluff. Plus, meet the sixteen Starting Line Up players competing for the title of "Most Pupular" in the Pupularity Playoffs.
This PUPPY BOWL will be the biggest yet, featuring 131 puppies, 73 shelters and rescues across 36 states and territories – including the all-time smallest pup, Sweetpea, at 1.7 lbs and the biggest, Levi the Great Dane at 70 lbs.
Will Team Ruff or Team Fluff win the Lombarky trophy? You can watch this feel-good sports competition on Sunday, February 11 at 2P ET/11A PT on Animal Planet.

Team Ruff - Betty
Australian Cattle Dog / Poodle