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Buttons, Mr. Wigglesworth and Jennifer Pawrence: ‘Puppy Bowl’ lineup announced

Jack Moore

January 9, 2018, 1:44 PM

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Alvin from Operation Paws for Homes in Virginia. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Alvin from Operation Paws for Homes in Virginia. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Animal Planet/Keith Barraclough/Courtesy Animal Planet)
Ana from the Sebastian County Humane Services in Arkansas. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Ana from the Sebastian County Humane Services in Arkansas. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Barry from the Nashville Human Association (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Barry from the Nashville Human Association. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Animal Planet/Keith Barraclough/Courtesy Animal Planet)
Bear from the Virginia Beach SPCA. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Bear from the Virginia Beach SPCA. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Morris from the Florida Little Dog Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Morris from the Florida Little Dog Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Moonshine from the Double D Dog Ranch. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Moonshine from the Double D Dog Ranch. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Mango from Compassion Without Borders. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Mango from Compassion Without Borders. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Luna from the Blue Water Humane Society. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Luna from the Blue Water Humane Society. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Lila from the Morris Animal Refuge Team. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Lila from the Morris Animal Refuge Team. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Kitsy from AHeinz57 Pet Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Kitsy from AHeinz57 Pet Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Kaleb from the Sato Project. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Kaleb from the Sato Project. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Juniper from the Animal Rescue League. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Juniper from the Animal Rescue League. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Joy from Animal Aid Inc. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Joy from Animal Aid Inc. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Jennifer Pawrence from Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Jennifer Pawrence from Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Hannah from Villalobos Animal Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Hannah from Villalobos Animal Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Edwin from the Humane Society of Greater Nashua (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Edwin from the Humane Society of Greater Nashua. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Clyde from Florida Little Dogs Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Clyde from Florida Little Dogs Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Chance from Green Dogs Unleashed. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Chance from Green Dogs Unleashed. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Carlo Carlino from the Miami Dade County Animal Services. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Carlo Carlino from the Miami Dade County Animal Services. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Buckalew from AHeinz57 Pet Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Buckalew from AHeinz57 Pet Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Boomer from Animal Friends Humane Society. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Boomer from Animal Friends Humane Society. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Blueberry Pie from Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Blueberry Pie from Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Biscuit from Social Tees. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Biscuit from Social Tees. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Mr. Wigglesworth from Florida Little Dogs Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Mr. Wigglesworth from Florida Little Dogs Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Olympia from Big Fluffy Dog Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Olympia from Big Fluffy Dog Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Peanut from AHeinz57 Pet Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Peanut from AHeinz57 Pet Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Petree from the Center for Animal Health and Welfare. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Petree from the Center for Animal Health and Welfare. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Sally from City Dog Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Sally from City Dog Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Savannah from Harley's Haven Dog Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Savannah from Harley’s Haven Dog Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Sophie from Green Dogs Unleashed. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Sophie from Green Dogs Unleashed. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Stripe from One Tail at a Time. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Stripe from One Tail at a Time. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Sunny from All But Furgotten. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Sunny from All But Furgotten. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Tyler from Shaggy Dog Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Tyler from Shaggy Dog Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Joker from Florida Little Dogs. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Joker from Florida Little Dogs. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Miss Brie from Anti-Cruelty Society of Chicago. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Miss Brie from Anti-Cruelty Society of Chicago. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Kelly Barkson from Suncoast Animal League. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Kelly Barkson from Suncoast Animal League. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Vaughn from Colorado Animal Welfare. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Vaughn from Colorado Animal Welfare. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Buttons from Green Dogs Unleashed. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Buttons from Green Dogs Unleashed. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Checkers from Paw Works. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Checkers from Paw Works. (Courtesy Animal Planet) (Courtesy Animal Planet)
(1/39)
Alvin from Operation Paws for Homes in Virginia. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Ana from the Sebastian County Humane Services in Arkansas. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Barry from the Nashville Human Association (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Bear from the Virginia Beach SPCA. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Morris from the Florida Little Dog Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Moonshine from the Double D Dog Ranch. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Mango from Compassion Without Borders. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Luna from the Blue Water Humane Society. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Lila from the Morris Animal Refuge Team. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Kitsy from AHeinz57 Pet Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Kaleb from the Sato Project. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Juniper from the Animal Rescue League. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Joy from Animal Aid Inc. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Jennifer Pawrence from Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Hannah from Villalobos Animal Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Edwin from the Humane Society of Greater Nashua (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Clyde from Florida Little Dogs Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Chance from Green Dogs Unleashed. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Carlo Carlino from the Miami Dade County Animal Services. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Buckalew from AHeinz57 Pet Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Boomer from Animal Friends Humane Society. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Blueberry Pie from Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Biscuit from Social Tees. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Mr. Wigglesworth from Florida Little Dogs Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Olympia from Big Fluffy Dog Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Peanut from AHeinz57 Pet Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Petree from the Center for Animal Health and Welfare. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Sally from City Dog Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Savannah from Harley's Haven Dog Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Sophie from Green Dogs Unleashed. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Stripe from One Tail at a Time. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Sunny from All But Furgotten. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Tyler from Shaggy Dog Rescue. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Joker from Florida Little Dogs. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Miss Brie from Anti-Cruelty Society of Chicago. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Kelly Barkson from Suncoast Animal League. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Vaughn from Colorado Animal Welfare. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Buttons from Green Dogs Unleashed. (Courtesy Animal Planet)
Checkers from Paw Works. (Courtesy Animal Planet)

WASHINGTON — It’s the most hotly anticipated sporting event of the winter. No, it’s not the Super Bowl or the PyeongChang Olympics. It’s the 14th annual Puppy Bowl, and we’re already wagging with anticipation.

Billed as the “cutest competition in sports history,” the two-hour competition airs Feb. 4 at 3 p.m. on Animal Planet.

Ahead of the games next month, Animal Planet has unveiled the starting lineups for “#TeamRuff” and “#TeamFluff.”

Animal Planet said it worked with 48 animal shelters and rescue organizations from 25 states and territories to build the rosters for both teams. This year’s game will also features pups rescued from areas devastated by natural disasters, including Houston, Puerto Rico and Florida, Animal Planet said.

Other species are also getting into the act.

The games will begin with a rendition of The Star Spangled Banner by Jokgu, the piano-playing chicken of “America’s Got Talent” fame.

And the half-time show will feature performances by feline group called Kitt-ENSYNC which will perform its rendition of “Meow Meow Meow” to the tune of *NSYNC’s 2000 hit song “Bye Bye Bye.”

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