For those not familiar with the annual Puppy Bowl, it’s a 2-hour program every Super Bowl Sunday featuring tiny puppies running around a small, indoor “stadium,” wrestling over a football squeak-toy and stopping to take spontaneous naps on the green. The entire canine competition is narrated by the enthusiastic “sports”-casters at Animal Planet, complete with a half-time show of kittens running amok on the field.

Basically, it’s the cutest thing ever — and this year, the Puppy Bowl will feature three puppies from Asheville Humane Society. While two of our local players were recruited for “Team Ruff” — Sassy, 13-week-old female miniature poodle mix, was drafted onto “Team Fluff.” Kiaria and Titan, playing together on “Team Ruff,” are a 12-week-old female Japanese chin and 12-week-old male American bulldog, respectively.

Click here to view the rest of this year’s promising athletes (and you really should — they’re adorable).

Check out this video of last year’s Puppy Bowl IX to see what our local pups will be getting themselves into, and tune in to see which is tougher: Ruff or Fluff, on Sunday, Feb. 1 from 3-5 p.m.

From Carolina Mountain Dog:

Three puppies from Asheville Humane Society have been selected to be starting players in the nationally televised Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl!

The Puppy Bowl returns for its 11th consecutive year with an all-star, all-adorable cast that’s ready to mix it up on the grand gridiron of Animal Planet Stadium. Puppy Bowl XI brings viewers a lovable lineup that’s itching to play in a winning combination of terrier tackles, touchdowns, puppy penalties, fumbles and Fido first downs.

This year’s big game is sure to be a tail-wagger. From barking beagles and spunky spaniels to everything in between, you’ll see the cutest players taking the field on the most action-packed Sunday of the year. Plus, back for another year is the popular BISSELL Kitten Halftime Show, guaranteed to bring the house down! And, sideline reporter “Meep the Bird” will return to tweet live updates throughout the game. Follow @MeepTheBird on game day for the latest news, puppy penalties and behind-the-scenes moments from inside the stadium.

The Puppy Bowl airs before the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 1 from 3-5 pm. Watch as Asheville’s own furry celebrities take the field!

– See more at: http://www.carolinamountaindog.com/2015/01/puppies-from-asheville-humane-compete-in-national-puppy-bowl-on-feb-1.html#sthash.ZJSMYxDc.dpuf