Utica pups represent Team Ruff and Team Fluff in Animal Planet's Puppy Bowl XVIII

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Utica will be represented by not one, but two four-legged friends in Animal Planet's 2022 Puppy Bowl.

Two adoptees from Utica rescue House of Paws will compete on opposing teams for the title of MVP (Most Valuable Pup) when Puppy Bowl XVIII airs Sunday, Feb. 13, said rescue owner Jennifer Vohwinkel.

Dazzle waits on the sidelines during the taping of the 2022 Puppy Bowl. She and fellow player Moo were both adopted from the House of Paws rescue in Utica.
Dazzle waits on the sidelines during the taping of the 2022 Puppy Bowl. She and fellow player Moo were both adopted from the House of Paws rescue in Utica.

Dazzle, a 7-month-old American fox hound mix, will play for Team Ruff, while Team Fluff gets Rob Gronkowski. Not the Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end, but a 7-month-old dachshund-pit bull mix also known as Moo, who will represent the House of Paws sister rescue in Florida, Love my Pitties.

It's not the first time a pup has been drafted from the rescue. Last year, then 6-month-old cattle-dog mix Minnie took to the field when she played for Team Fluff in Puppy Bowl XVII.

Vohwinkel was reached out to this summer about entering a pup. She entered Moo and Dazzle and found out in August they were accepted. Taping occurred this past October at Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls, she said. It was slightly different than last year, she said, but both pups had fun playing with staff and other dogs.

"They were definitely super tired," she said. "Because they clunked right out in my bed in the hotel room."

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So what are both players up to in their retirement? Vohwinkel said Dazzle was adopted by a woman in the area, while Moo is with his new owner in Rochester.

"He is doing great," she said. "He has a four-legged fur brother he just loves."

Meanwhile, House of Paws, which opened in April 2020, is raising money to expand, Vohwinkel said.

"We want to get a bigger building to have up to 50 dogs," she said.

Rob Gronkowski, also known as Moo, an adoptee from Utica rescue House of Paws, will be on Animal Planet's Puppy Bowl XVIII Feb. 13.
Rob Gronkowski, also known as Moo, an adoptee from Utica rescue House of Paws, will be on Animal Planet's Puppy Bowl XVIII Feb. 13.

The rescue currently can house around 23 dogs. Vohwinkel said she also would like to have a sanctuary on site for unadoptable dogs to live out their lives there.

Puppy Bowl XVIII will stream on the service discovery+ and air on Animal Planet 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13, featuring pre-game coverage starting at 1 p.m. and the Kitty Half-Time Show.

H. Rose Schneider is the public safety reporter for the Observer-Dispatch. Email Rose at hschneider@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Utica rescue House of Paws dogs to play in Puppy Bowl XVIII