ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — This Sunday, people across the country will be tuning in to watch the Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet. The annual show features dozens of pups from across the country as they score touchdowns using a chew toy.
The dogs featured are up for adoption, and at least two are from the Tampa Bay region this year.
That includes Maisey, who was rescued by the St. Petersburg non-profit Compassion Kind last year.
"During Puppy Bowl, she would just sit and pose in the cutest ways, and I think her pictures really just stole their hearts," Compassion Kind Founder Aja Nikiya Estro said.
Sassy Maisey is playing and posing today thanks to her fresh start through Compassion Kind.
"We have a lot of special cases with, you know, dogs that are living on the street, abuse cases. And she's one of our dogs that we found in the street," Nikiya Estro added.
Now, from the street to "unleashing" her stardom. After a submission through Compassion Kind, Maisey was selected as part of 'Team Ruff' for this year's puppy bowl.
"It's a really good opportunity to highlight these shelter and rescue dogs that are looking for homes," Nikiya Estro said.
The "big game" was shot back in October, with Maisey playing an adorable supportive role.
"She was a little shy and didn't exactly want to play with the football," Nikiya Estro laughed. "She kind of hung out by the producer's corner, but she did great. She was a complete angel with everybody."
Since October, Maisey found her forever home in St. Petersburg with Candace Fennel.
"She just immediately took my heart away and ever since she's just been an amazing dog, she's perfect," Fennel said.
But the team at Compassion Kind said Maisey represents the countless dogs that still need homes across the Bay Area.
"Right now, we have a lot of owner surrenders coming in so we have a lot of puppies in need, a lot of special cases. So we're really looking for fosters. The best way to help out a rescue is to foster," Nikiya Estro said. "All these pups are deserving of an amazing forever home."
Back before Maisey was adopted, she went by Nora. So this Sunday during the Puppy Bowl, keep an eye out for her on Team Ruff and well as another Compassion Kind dog named Kalani.
Nikiya Estro said Kalani was adopted shortly after the Puppy Bowl as well by one of the producers of the show.
Compassion Kind is holding a Puppy Bowl watch party this Sunday at the Dog Bar in St. Petersburg. All are welcome.
