Puppy Bowl 2011 Starting Lineup (VIDEO)

It's that time of year again.

Puppy Bowl time.

What'd you think we were talking about?

The annual Animal Planet event is about more than capitalizing on football's biggest Sunday. It calls attention to homeless animals.

"It's really a call to action," Executive Producer Melinda Toporoff told CNN. "We want to raise awareness for shelters everywhere and get more puppies adopted."

Perhaps the most amazing part of the Puppy Bowl is its viewership. Though it started 7 years ago as a space-filler, it's now viewed by 8.6 million people, something no one expected, reports CNN.

And the Puppy Bowl seems to be doing its part for more than just the network. Since 2004, 250 animals have been adopted through the game.

Check out the video below for a few highlights of Puppy Bowl VII (this year's game), or check out the game for yourself, 3 p.m. Feb. 6 (Super bowl Sunday).

WATCH:

Comments

[Imadeul00k]

03:06 PM on 02/09/2011

This was the first time I had ever seen the show. I wondered if the puppies were shelter puppies while I was watching it. Cute idea.

[TeeFry]

10:21 PM on 02/07/2011

Poochies Rule!

[lisakaz2]

09:06 PM on 02/07/2011

Big Red wuz robbed!

[SmartLib247]

05:52 PM on 02/07/2011

Pets are worse for the environment than an SUV, why don't you people get this? NO PETS!

[bobbyperu]

06:02 PM on 02/07/2011

Blow me!

[TeeFry]

10:20 PM on 02/07/2011

I'd rather have animals around than most humans. You are definitely one we could all live without.

[Mark Jc]

03:49 PM on 02/07/2011

This is great :-)

[harmonikasavingsbonds]

03:15 PM on 02/07/2011

I loved the chicken cheerleaders!

[Hugatreetoday]

07:48 AM on 02/07/2011

Puppy bowl rivals the actual game every year. lol

[Max Shaw]

01:17 PM on 02/07/2011

100%. Gotta also love the Kitten Half-Time Show.

[mlaiuppa]

01:13 AM on 02/07/2011

I've been watching since the first game. It's a wonderful alternative for those of us who do not enjoy sports and do not watch the superbowl.

It's really improved. I noticed Subaru had some official Puppybowl commercials to rival the Superbowl. I really did miss the parrot singing the National Anthem this year. The chicken cheerleader were OK but they need some livelier chickens. Perhaps some different breeds. I know shelters have all sorts of pets and I'm sure there are some chickens besides the standard white. Maybe use bunnies instead of chickens.

I did use Petfinders to find my dog, but not because of the puppybowl. We did watch it together though.

[Dietcokefreak]

02:28 PM on 02/07/2011

I also don't watch the Superbowl and just love to watch all the animals. I do think they should expand a little and have an adult dog sideshow. Maybe make them be the coaches for the puppys.

And the commercials are better too!

[mlaiuppa]

05:09 AM on 02/08/2011

The adult dogs are the tail gaters.

[ryujin]

09:39 PM on 02/06/2011

Its Pup-tastic!

[BarelyLucid]

07:56 PM on 02/06/2011

The Puppy Bowl is my favorite event on Super Bowl Sunday.

[Debbi Mihelic]

07:07 PM on 02/06/2011

I'm watching it right now :) The National Anthem just finished....

[Paula Rodriguez]

06:37 PM on 02/06/2011

I've been a puppy bowl fan since the beginning... amazes and amuses me every year. The kitty half-time show was, as always, a big hit. One little sickly kitty worried me, tho. Anyone else notice that kitty?

[mlaiuppa]

01:17 AM on 02/07/2011

The one that looked like the front legs were a little crooked? Yes, but that didn't seem to slow him down any.

Did you miss the parrot singing the National anthem?

[nightingale801]

03:31 PM on 02/06/2011

Awww :)

[dengal]

11:08 AM on 02/06/2011

this makes me laugh and smile....rescue a pup if you can. Ive had 3 so far...will continue the trend. mutts rock!

[commonsense68130]

10:38 AM on 02/06/2011

Love love love Animal Planet. Along with National Geographic Channel are the primary reason to get cable...