Canine cuties ready for Puppy Bowl faceoff

By CNN Staff

1 minute read

Updated 8:51 AM EST, Wed February 3, 2016

One of 49 puppies in this year's Puppy Bowl starting lineup, bulldog Otis hails from the <a href="http://www.adoptwcac.org/" target="_blank" target="_blank">Williamson County Animal Center</a> in Tennessee. Click through the gallery to see more players, or visit Animal Planet for the <a href="http://www.animalplanet.com/tv-shows/puppy-bowl/photos/puppy-bowl-xii-starting-lineup/" target="_blank" target="_blank">full lineup</a>.

Otis, Team Ruff —

One of 49 puppies in this year's Puppy Bowl starting lineup, bulldog Otis hails from the Williamson County Animal Center in Tennessee. Click through the gallery to see more players, or visit Animal Planet for the full lineup.

Keith Barraclough/Animal Planet

Rat terrier Bella comes to the big game from the <a href="http://www.ashevillehumane.org/" target="_blank" target="_blank">Asheville Humane Society</a> in Asheville, North Carolina. Bella has post-game dinner plans with <a href="http://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2015/09/22/pizza-rat-ny-viral-moos-pkg-erin.cnn">pizza rat</a>, according to her Animal Planet player bio.

Bella, Team Ruff —

Rat terrier Bella comes to the big game from the Asheville Humane Society in Asheville, North Carolina. Bella has post-game dinner plans with pizza rat, according to her Animal Planet player bio.

Keith Barraclough/Animal Planet

Team Ruff's Hank looks like a sweetheart, but he's got a taste for predators. He wishes Shark Week lasted the entire month. Hank was recruited for the team from <a href="http://www.sanctuaryrescue.com/" target="_blank" target="_blank">Sanctuary Rescue</a> outside Richmond, Virginia.

Hank, Team Ruff —

Team Ruff's Hank looks like a sweetheart, but he's got a taste for predators. He wishes Shark Week lasted the entire month. Hank was recruited for the team from Sanctuary Rescue outside Richmond, Virginia.

Keith Barraclough/Animal Planet

Spaniel mix Jimmy comes to Team Ruff from <a href="https://www.aheinz57.com/" target="_blank" target="_blank">AHeinz57 Pet Rescue</a> in De Soto, Iowa. Forty-four rescue organizations across the United States were tapped for draft picks for this year's Puppy Bowl XII.

Jimmy, Team Ruff —

Spaniel mix Jimmy comes to Team Ruff from AHeinz57 Pet Rescue in De Soto, Iowa. Forty-four rescue organizations across the United States were tapped for draft picks for this year's Puppy Bowl XII.

Keith Barraclough/Animal Planet

Like teammate Otis, pit bull Raphael hails from the <a href="http://www.adoptwcac.org/" target="_blank" target="_blank">Williamson County Animal Center</a> in Tennessee.

Raphael, Team Ruff —

Like teammate Otis, pit bull Raphael hails from the Williamson County Animal Center in Tennessee.

Keith Barraclough/Animal Planet

Maltese Toby never leaves home without sunscreen, according to Animal Planet. Toby was recruited from the <a href="http://www.nevadaspca.org/" target="_blank" target="_blank">Nevada SPCA</a>.

Toby, Team Ruff —

Maltese Toby never leaves home without sunscreen, according to Animal Planet. Toby was recruited from the Nevada SPCA.

Keith Barraclough/Animal Planet

Old English sheepdog Gryffin likes shaggy dog stories. He was recruited from <a href="http://www.floridalittledogrescue.com/" target="_blank" target="_blank">Florida Little Dog Rescue</a>.

Gryffin, Team Fluff —

Old English sheepdog Gryffin likes shaggy dog stories. He was recruited from Florida Little Dog Rescue.

Keith Barraclough/Animal Planet

Boston terrier Miss Sassy dreams of traveling with Anthony Bourdain, according to her Animal Planet player bio. Miss Sassy was recruited from <a href="https://www.aheinz57.com/" target="_blank" target="_blank">AHeinz57 Pet Rescue</a> in De Soto, Iowa.

Miss Sassy, Team Fluff —

Boston terrier Miss Sassy dreams of traveling with Anthony Bourdain, according to her Animal Planet player bio. Miss Sassy was recruited from AHeinz57 Pet Rescue in De Soto, Iowa.

Keith Barraclough/Animal Planet

Pit bull Harper hails from the <a href="http://www.adoptwcac.org/" target="_blank" target="_blank">Williamson County Animal Center</a> in Tennessee. Puppy Bowl viewers at home have the option of creating a custom team for the Puppy Bowl Fantasy Game.

Harper, Team Fluff —

Pit bull Harper hails from the Williamson County Animal Center in Tennessee. Puppy Bowl viewers at home have the option of creating a custom team for the Puppy Bowl Fantasy Game.

Keith Barraclough/Animal Planet

Small but mighty Magic is a Chihuahua from the <a href="http://www.nevadaspca.org/" target="_blank" target="_blank">Nevada SPCA</a>.

Magic, Team Fluff —

Small but mighty Magic is a Chihuahua from the Nevada SPCA.

Keith Barraclough/Animal Planet

Shih Tzu Buttons hails from <a href="http://www.stellashope.org/" target="_blank" target="_blank">Stella's Hope</a> rescue in Orange County, California.

Buttons, Team Fluff —

Shih Tzu Buttons hails from Stella's Hope rescue in Orange County, California.

Keith Barraclough/Animal Planet

Great Dane Bijoux was recruited from <a href="http://www.floridalittledogrescue.com/" target="_blank" target="_blank">Florida Little Dog Rescue</a>.

Bijoux, Team Fluff —

Great Dane Bijoux was recruited from Florida Little Dog Rescue.

Keith Barraclough/Animal Planet

Puppy Bowl contenders

Story highlights

This year's Puppy Bowl also features kittens, chickens and a skunk

Cat people might prefer to check out the Kitten Bowl

CNN —

Puppies! Kittens! Chickens?

They’ll all be taking the field on Super Bowl Sunday during Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl XII.

Airing from 3 to 5 p.m. ET/PT Sunday with a pregame show kicking off at 2:30, the puppy match-up also features a Kitty Half-time Show and big-haired silkie chicken cheerleaders. Returning “rufferee” Dan Schachner will be joined by assistant ref Stanley the Skunk.

For the first time this year, fans can get a full 360˚ experience during four puppy practice scrimmages with Puppy Bowl Virtual Reality.

The adoptable puppy players for Team Ruff and Team Fluff were recruited from 44 animal shelters and rescue organizations across the United States.

Watching cute cat videos is instinctive and good for you – seriously

To encourage the adoption of older animals as well, Animal Planet has started a Puppy Bowl Hall of Fame in partnership with the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

TV viewers who vote kitten over puppy might also want to tune in to Kitten Bowl III on the Hallmark Channel. That adorable feline melee airs at noon/11 Central on Sunday.