
Meet the puppies and their friends —
Puppy Bowl IX is Animal Planet's answer to the Super Bowl. The battle of the cute airs repeatedly on Sunday. Meet Sally, a dachshund/basset hound mix, left, and Harry, a chocolate dachshund smooth, both from Furever Dachshund Rescue.

Meet the puppies and their friends —
Hedgehog cheerleaders root for the puppies from the sidelines.

Meet the puppies and their friends —
Referee Dan Schachner loves this job. "You bet your pooper scooper," he said in an Animal Planet video.

Meet the puppies and their friends —
The Puppy Bowl VIX kitty halftime show features a dance music soundtrack and enough moving objects for even the most predatory feline.

Meet the puppies and their friends —
Chestnut, a Labrador retriever/Australian shepherd mix from Bonnie Blue Rescue, is a 9-week-old male who loves to snuggle.

Meet the puppies and their friends —
Cash, a 15-week-old male pit bull, is from Greene Street Animal Rescue and he loves belly rubs.

Meet the puppies and their friends —
Gunter, a white pit bull/hound mix, center, chases Marta, a schnauzer/beagle mix, front, down the field as Biscuit, a Puerto Rican sato looks on.

Meet the puppies and their friends —
Referee Schachner gives Chestnut a cuddly time out.

Meet the puppies and their friends —
Lenny, a male Catahoula leopard dog mix from Gimme Shelter, is 12 weeks old and likes to sleep on peoples' heads.

Meet the puppies and their friends —
Puppy Bowl offers viewers plenty of tackling and ruff-housing.

Meet the puppies and their friends —
The kitty halftime show makes use of the latest cat toys.

Meet the puppies and their friends —
Bessie, a Catahoula leopard dog mix, is a 13-week-old female from Gimme Shelter Animal Rescue.