<P> The Puppy Bowl is an annual television program on Animal Planet that mimics an American football game similar to the Super Bowl, using puppies . Shown each year on Super Bowl Sunday, the show consists of footage of a batch of puppies at play inside a model stadium, with commentary on their actions . The first Puppy Bowl was shown on February 6, 2005, opposite Super Bowl XXXIX . The puppies featured in the Puppy Bowl are from shelters . </P> <P> According to the show's producers, the inspiration for Puppy Bowl as Super Bowl counterprogramming came from the popular Yule Log Christmas program . </P> <P> Several months of planning occur before each show, which is usually filmed in October . A veterinarian is on site during the production of Puppy Bowl to ensure animal safety and well - being, and to administer any veterinary medical care which might be needed . Representatives from American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, as well as the shelters which lend their animals to the production, are also on - site as observers to ensure animal welfare standards are maintained . In 2012, an American Humane Association representative was always on - site to ensure that puppies did not become too aggressive and injure one another . </P> <P> According to its associate producer, about 53 hours of filming are needed to produce a single Puppy Bowl . In 2007, shooting occurred over three days . Roughly 30 staff members were needed in 2008 to produce the show . In 2010, the veterinarian on site said filming was spread over three days, while in 2015 filming occurred in 12 - hour blocks over two days . Puppies are given a rest period every 30 minutes, due to the heat from the lights . Forty - six puppies were used in 2008, and about 60 puppies in 2010 . The 2011 production occurred in the New York City area in the fall of 2010, using 47 puppies, while the 2012 show featured 58 puppies . The 2013 show (filmed at a television studio in west midtown in Manhattan) featured 63 puppies, with 10 on the "field" at one time . Filming occurred over two days . The 2014 episode was filmed October 2 to 4, 2013, at the Chelsea Broadcast Center in Manhattan, New York City . A staff of 49 Animal Planet employees and 48 volunteers wrangled the animals, with each puppy assigned a single human overseer . Kittens and cats were filmed the first day, puppies and dogs the second, and other animals on the fourth . A total of 66 puppies were used for the show in 2014, including a basset hound with a genetic defect to its paw . This allowed 12 to 15 puppies to be on the field at a time, and for puppies to be given rest periods every 20 minutes . Another 30 untrained kittens, five penguins, three trained adult cats, eight "tailgate party" dogs, four police dogs, and six hamsters were used in the 2014 show . All the animals except the penguins (which were provided by the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium) are adoptable . In 2015, 37 shelters from around the United States and Puerto Rico submitted 85 puppies for the event, of which 55 puppies were chosen to be on the air . Another 25 kittens were used for the half - time show . Forty - four shelters and rescue groups in 25 states provided 49 animals in 2016 . (Eighty - eight animals "auditioned".) Filming returned to an eight - hour - a-day, three - day format in 2016, with two days used for filming puppies and one day for kittens and other animals . Sixty personnel were needed for filming . Puppies were grouped by size (small, medium, and large) for on - field play . For Puppy Bowl XIII, 34 shelters and rescue organizations in 22 states and Puerto Rico provided the 78 puppies featured on the show . </P>

Where do they get the puppies for the puppy bowl