The Pennsylvania pups, rejected by breeders and owners, who went on to become Puppy Bowl stars and find loving homes
Philadelphia, PA — While the human Super Bowl dominates the airwaves this Sunday, a squad of underdog athletes from Pennsylvania is stealing hearts in Puppy Bowl XXII. These canine competitors, many of whom began life as “rejects” discarded by breeders or surrendered by overwhelmed owners, have successfully pivoted from uncertain futures to national stardom on Animal Planet’s gridiron.
Among the starting lineup of 150 dogs from 72 shelters is a distinct Pennsylvania contingent that highlights the state’s robust, albeit strained, animal rescue network. Leading the pack for Philadelphia Eagles fans is DeVon-tails Smith, a charismatic pup from the Philadelphia area representing Team Ruff. Named after the Eagles’ wide receiver, DeVon-tails is joined by a roster of fellow survivors who have overcome significant odds to compete for the “Lombarky Trophy.”
From “Defective” to MVP
The journey to the Puppy Bowl is rarely a straight line. For dogs like Cricket, a pit bull mix from Harley’s Haven in Perkasie, the path was blocked by medical challenges. Cricket was born with a heart defect—a condition that often leads breeders to classify a puppy as “defective” or “unsellable,” frequently resulting in euthanasia or abandonment. Instead, Cricket found safety in the rescue system and is now competing on Team Fluff, proving that special needs dogs are capable of elite cuteness.
Similarly, Carrie Pawshaw (originally named Betty Goblin), an Australian Shepherd mix from Paws Across Pittsburgh, has traded a life of uncertainty for the spotlight. Rescued and fostered by Jacki Hoover of Mt. Lebanon, Carrie Pawshaw’s debut is a testament to the foster networks that catch dogs when their original homes fall through.
The Dark Reality of Pennsylvania Breeding
The presence of so many Pennsylvania dogs is not a coincidence but a reflection of the state’s ongoing battle with puppy mills. Pennsylvania frequently appears on the Humane Society’s “Horrible Hundred” list, a report cataloging problem breeders. Rescue organizations like the Brandywine Valley SPCA, Phoenix Animal Rescue, and Animal Friends often step in to save dogs from these facilities, where “imperfect” puppies are treated as industrial waste rather than living beings.
Critics of the commercial breeding industry point to the Puppy Bowl as a necessary counter-narrative. While breeders breed for profit—often sacrificing health for specific physical traits—shelters are left to manage the fallout, caring for the medical and behavioral needs of the “rejects.” The televised event serves as a critical advertisement for these animals, showcasing that a dog rejected for a cleft palate, a heart murmur, or simply being “too old” (a common reason for breeder dumps) is still a MVP-caliber companion.
Brothers in Arms
Representing Western Pennsylvania, brothers Niklaus and Kol, Rottweiler mixes from Animal Friends in Ohio Township, faced their own “challenging backgrounds” before being drafted. Now playing on opposing teams—Niklaus for Team Fluff and Kol for Team Ruff—they symbolize the resilience of shelter pets. According to their rescue, both brothers have already secured the ultimate prize: loving forever homes. Niklaus’s new family reports that the former shelter resident now enjoys “five or six zoomie spurts a day,” a far cry from his precarious beginnings.
As Puppy Bowl XXII airs, the message remains clear: the “reject” label is a failure of the seller, not the dog. For DeVon-tails Smith, Cricket, and the rest of the Pennsylvania pack, the game is just a victory lap on their way to a life where they are finally chosen.
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