For football fans, there’s no bigger annual event than the Super Bowl.
But for canine lovers, it’s the Puppy Bowl. This year, an Oakland County pooch will be part of the mock gridiron action.
Brooklyn is one of 49 dogs selected to be in the starting lineup for ‘Puppy Bowl XII,? which will air from 3-5 p.m. Feb. 7 (Super Bowl Sunday) on the Animal Planet network. Tailgate ? pun intended ? begins with the pre-game show at 2:30 p.m.
Born on July 10, 2015, Brooklyn is a purebred German Shepherd puppy rescued last year by the Oakland County-based Canine Companions Rescue Center (CCRC). She, her five siblings and her mother were removed from a ‘neglectful breeding situation? in Macomb County, according to Clarkston resident Erica McCarthy, CCRC’s operations manager.
‘She’s adorable,? McCarthy said. ‘That’s why we thought she had a pretty good chance (of getting picked).?
For those unfamiliar with it, the Puppy Bowl pits two teams of painfully cute puppies ? Team Ruff and Team Fluff ? against each other. They battle over a variety of chew toys and try to score touchdowns inside a miniature stadium. They’re all hoping to win the title of MVP ? Most Valuable Puppy. There’s even a halftime show featuring kittens.
McCarthy travelled to New York City in October with Brooklyn and was on set for the filming. ‘It was fun to watch,? she said. ‘It was very organized, but very hectic.?
‘Brooklyn herself did not play a lot because it was a little overwhelming for her,? McCarthy noted.
All the dogs who participate in the Puppy Bowl are rescues. For this year’s event, Animal Planet worked with 44 shelters and rescue groups representing 25 states and Puerto Rico.
McCarthy was pleased to report that Brooklyn already has a forever-home with a family in Pontiac. She even has a new friend in the form of the family’s 4-year-old German Shepherd.
McCarthy is hoping Brooklyn’s participation in ‘Puppy Bowl XII? will garner interest and involvement in CCRC, which has ties to Oxford. ‘The big thing for us is to promote our group and promote rescues,? she said.
Established in 2004, CCRC is a volunteer-run, nonprofit organization dedicated to working with the community and area animal control agencies to promote the adoption of dogs without families. Its goal is to rescue dogs with good family potential.
Last year, almost 600 dogs were adopted through CCRC, according to McCarthy.
‘We’re a foster-based organization,? she explained. ‘We don’t have a facility. Our dogs live in our homes with us. We have approximately 40 dogs in our organization pretty much at any given time.?
McCarthy, who’s been volunteering with the group for eight years, said the two biggest needs are more foster homes, which would enable CCRC to rescue more dogs, and monetary donations to help care for them.
‘Our financial expenses are super high,? she said. ‘We take care of the food. We take care of all medical needs. We take care of equipment. All we need is someone to take care of the dogs.?
To learn more about CCRC, please visit www.ccrcdogs.com or call (248) 834-9419.