Every dog participating in Puppy Bowl XXII was rescued from a shelter or rescue organization. This year's game features 150 dogs from 72 shelters across 30 states, Puerto Rico, and the British Virgin Islands - the most geographically diverse lineup in the event's 22-year history.

Behind each puppy on the field is an organization working to save animals and find them homes. Here's a look at where Puppy Bowl dogs come from and the rescue groups making this year's event possible.

The 72 participating shelters range from large metropolitan humane societies to small regional rescues. Some specialize in specific breeds or needs, while others serve as general animal shelters for their communities. What they all share is a commitment to rescue and adoption over euthanasia.

Puppy Bowl has maintained a perfect adoption record since its debut in 2005. Every single dog that has appeared on the broadcast has found a home. That track record speaks to both the visibility the event provides and the quality of the organizations involved.

Here are some of the shelters represented in Puppy Bowl XXII, along with the work they do year-round.

1. The Sato Project (Puerto Rico / New York)

The Sato Project rescues street dogs from Puerto Rico, where an estimated 650,000 strays roam the island. "Sato" is the Puerto Rican Spanish term for mixed-breed street dogs.

Founded in 2011, the organization began its work at "Dead Dog Beach" in Yabucoa - a notorious dumping ground for unwanted pets on the island's southeastern coast. Since then, they've rescued over 8,000 dogs, flying them to the mainland United States for adoption through what they call "Freedom Flights."

The Sato Project's work expanded significantly after Hurricane Maria in 2017, when they helped reunite nearly 300 displaced families with their pets and distributed 150,000 pounds of emergency supplies. They've since launched Operation Sato, a spay/neuter initiative that addresses the root cause of the stray population.

Benito, a Siberian Husky-Chihuahua mix competing for Team Fluff, represents the Sato Project in this year's Puppy Bowl.

How to support: thesatoproject.org

2. Green Dogs Unleashed (Troy, Virginia)

Green Dogs Unleashed specializes in rescuing, rehabilitating, and training special needs dogs - particularly those who are deaf or blind. The organization was founded after Erika Proctor witnessed someone throw a white Great Dane puppy from a moving truck. That puppy, Serendipity, turned out to be both deaf and blind. A veterinarian recommended euthanasia, but Proctor refused.

Instead, she trained Serendipity and eventually founded Green Dogs Unleashed to help other special needs dogs find homes. The organization trains many of their rescues to become therapy dogs, working with veterans with PTSD and children with special needs.

This year, Green Dogs Unleashed is sending Brûlée (a deaf Boston Terrier-French Bulldog mix) and Knick Knack (who has both hearing and visual impairments) to the Puppy Bowl.

How to support: greendogsunleashed.org

3. Kentucky Humane Society (Louisville, Kentucky)

One of the larger shelters in this year's lineup, the Kentucky Humane Society is sending multiple players including Showgirl (a Chow Chow-Rottweiler on Team Fluff) and Wynonna, a three-legged Miniature American Shepherd-Shih Tzu mix.

How to support: kyhumane.org

4. San Francisco SPCA (California)

The San Francisco SPCA provided care to nearly 98,000 animals last year and delivered over $5.2 million in free and reduced-cost veterinary services. They also partner with shelters in California's Central Valley, where limited access to veterinary care contributes to higher rates of animal homelessness.

Their Puppy Bowl representative, Foggy, arrived as a stray with an uncertain future. She's since been adopted and is settling into her forever home.

How to support: sfspca.org

5. Humane Society of Missouri (St. Louis)

Cheesecake, competing for Team Fluff, was rescued as part of the Humane Society of Missouri's largest operation in over a decade. In July 2025, their Animal Cruelty Task Force removed 140 dogs from a hoarding situation in Christian County. Cheesecake was among them.

How to support: hsmo.org

6. BISSELL Pet Foundation Partners

The BISSELL Pet Foundation works with shelters nationwide to fund adoption events and support rescue operations. This year, they're partnering with SPCA of Southwest Michigan, whose puppy Dan will compete in Puppy Bowl XXII.

BISSELL sponsors the MVP (Most Valuable Puppy) award and has been a longtime supporter of Puppy Bowl's adoption mission.

How to support: bissellpetfoundation.org

7. Humane Society of the British Virgin Islands (Tortola)

For the first time, a shelter from outside the United States and Puerto Rico is participating in Puppy Bowl. Miss Coco, an American Staffordshire Terrier-Chow Chow mix, traveled from BARRK LI and the Humane Society of the British Virgin Islands to compete for Team Ruff.

How to support: hsbvi.org

Beyond the organizations highlighted above, Puppy Bowl XXII includes shelters from coast to coast:

Northeast: Connecticut Humane Society, Lucky Dog Refuge (Stamford, CT), Danbury Animal Welfare Society, Nickel City Canine Rescue (Buffalo, NY), Animal Friends (Pittsburgh, PA), Paws Across Pittsburgh

Southeast: Florida Little Dog Rescue (St. Cloud), Ninna's Road to Rescue (Louisiana), Perfect Imperfections Rescue (Watertown, CT) home of Teigan, who uses a wheelchair for mobility

Midwest: Big Lake Humane Society (Muskegon, MI), SPCA of Southwest Michigan (Kalamazoo), Humane Society of Greater Dayton (Ohio), Humane Society of Greater Kansas City

West: Seattle Humane Society, Angel City Pit Bulls (Los Angeles)

The full list of participating shelters is available at PuppyBowl.com.

A record 15 dogs with special needs are competing in Puppy Bowl XXII. These include:

• Wynonna: three legs (Kentucky Humane Society)

• Eleanor: deaf and vision-impaired

• Brûlée: deaf (Green Dogs Unleashed)

• Anson: deaf (Underdog Pet Rescue, Wisconsin)

• Teigan: wheelchair user (Perfect Imperfections Rescue, Connecticut)

• Paddy: missing both eyes (Pets with Disabilities, Maryland)

• Riley: missing both eyes (Rescue Dogs Rock NYC)

• Litchi: missing an ear (Angel City Pit Bulls)

• Cricket: heart condition (Harley's Haven, Pennsylvania)

• Grasshopper: diabetes (Harley's Haven)

These dogs demonstrate what rescue organizations have long known: special needs animals adapt, thrive, and make excellent companions.

If you want to interact with adoptable rescue puppies before Puppy Bowl, Puppy Sphere has partnered with Animal Planet to host Rescue Puppy Yoga sessions in select cities. These events feature puppies from local rescue organizations in a relaxed setting, with all net proceeds supporting those rescues.

Sessions are available in Washington D.C. and NYC. It's a hands-on way to support animal welfare and potentially meet a dog who could become part of your family.

Book a Rescue Puppy Yoga session.

Whether or not you're ready to adopt, there are ways to help the shelters that make Puppy Bowl possible:

Donate: Financial contributions fund veterinary care, food, facility operations, and transportation for animals. Even small amounts make a difference.

Volunteer: Shelters need help with everything from dog walking to event coordination to social media. Contact your local organizations to see what they need.

Foster: Temporary foster homes help shelters increase their capacity and prepare animals for adoption. Many Puppy Bowl participants spent time in foster care before finding permanent homes.

Adopt: If you're ready, consider adopting from one of the 72 Puppy Bowl shelters or a rescue organization in your area. Millions of dogs enter shelters annually, each adoption creates space for another animal to be saved.

Spread the word: Share adoption success stories and shelter events on social media. Visibility helps animals find homes.

Puppy Bowl XXII airs Sunday, February 8, 2026, at 2 PM ET / 11 AM PT on Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS, truTV, HBO Max, and discovery+. Throughout the broadcast, "Pup Close and Personal" segments share the backstories of featured dogs, and "Adoptable" segments highlight animals still looking for homes.

The 150 dogs competing this year represent the work of thousands of rescue volunteers, veterinarians, foster families, and shelter staff. Supporting any of these organizations, whether through donation, volunteering, or adoption, helps continue that work long after the final whistle.

Puppy Sphere partners with Animal Planet to host Rescue Puppy Yoga sessions featuring adoptable puppies from local rescue organizations in Washington D.C. and NYC.