Meet Patrick Mabones, June and 3 other Iowa rescue dogs that will appear in Puppy Bowl XX
Get on your Team Ruff and Team Fluff football jerseys because five puppies from an Iowa rescue will be featured in the Puppy Bowl.
Angus, June, Jambu, Vega and Patrick Mabones join two teams and will face off on Feb. 11, the same day the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs play in the Super Bowl.
All five pups were previously under the care of AHeinz57 Pet Rescue & Transport based in De Soto west of Des Moines.
Dogs from the rescue, founded by Amy Heinz, have been featured in the Puppy Bowl since 2012, Heinz told the Des Moines Register. The initial opportunity came about when the rescue was only several years old. Heinz received a phone call from a producer with Animal Planet who wanted to feature a puppy from the rescue in the game.
“I laughed and I'm like, ‘Haha, who’s this?’ and he very dryly said, ‘I'm a producer from Animal Planet,’” Heinz recalled.
After that first appearance, the rescue adopted out more animals and welcomed more donations and volunteers.
See adorable pictures of the Puppy Bowl players from Iowa
In 2023, Heinz said the rescue adopted out 1,256 animals and had about another 250 animals in the rescue’s care.
Last year, brother and sister Angus and June were born in the rescue’s care. Little did they know they'd be sports superstars.
Jambu, on Team Fluff, is a purebred beagle who was also born under the rescue’s care when his mother arrived at the rescue pregnant, Heinz said.
Angus
Born: May 30, 2023
Sex: Male
Team: Ruff
June
Born: May 30, 2023
Sex: Female
Team: Ruff
Vega
Born: May 28, 2023
Sex: Female
Team: Fluff
Jambu
Born: May 25, 2023
Sex: Male
Team: Fluff
Patrick Mabones
Born: May 24, 2023
Sex: Male
Team: Fluff
What is the Puppy Bowl?
The Puppy Bowl is the Super Bowl for dogs. Puppies face off on their own football field in a televised game and “call-to-adoption” event, according to a news release on the Puppy Bowl XX. In the Puppy Bowl’s 20th year, the game will feature 131 puppies, 73 shelters and rescues across 36 states and territories in a three-hour matchup.
When is the Puppy Bowl?
The Puppy Bowl is on Feb. 11 at 1 p.m. CT. A pregame show begins at noon, which gives fans the chance to learn more about each player’s breed, interviews with players and coaches, and a glimpse at the Kitty Halftime Show.
How can I watch the Puppy Bowl?
Puppy Bowl XX will air on Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS, truTV, Max and Discoery+. You can also join the AHeinz57 Pet Rescue & Transport at Paws & Pints for a Puppy Bowl Watch Party. Meet some of the Puppy Bowl players, see adoptable puppies, enjoy snacks and watch the game live. The event is from noon to 4 p.m. Paws & Pints is located at 6218 Willowmere Dr., Des Moines. Admission goes toward AHeinz57 Pet Rescue & Transfer to afford trips to take the dogs to the Puppy Bowl.
How can I adopt an animal from AHeinz57 Pet Rescue & Transport?
Those interested in adopting a dog or cat from AHeinz57 Pet Rescue & Transport can visit the rescue’s website at aheinz57.com. On the website, it will note which pets are in foster care and which are at the rescue’s building. Those at the rescue can be seen during operational hours, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Where is AHeinz57 Pet Rescue & Transport?
The rescue is located at 4002 Ash St., De Soto.
Paris Barraza covers entertainment, lifestyle and arts at the Des Moines Register. Reach her at PBarraza@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa rescue dogs make the Puppy Bowl 2024 lineup
