Puppy Bowl 2012: The Ruffest Game of the Year [Video]

The Puppy Bowl is back for the 8th consecutive year. The very best in canine talent will compete this Sunday on the on the grand gridiron of Animal Planet Stadium.

This year, Animal Planet has enlisted the help of a group of pig cheerleaders who will “ham it up” on the sidelines and a bird that will live tweet the event.

Dan Schachner, a television host, commercial actor and announcer, will also be making his debut as the Puppy Bowl referee.

Schachner said:

“My job is to make sure the puppies play a safe, clean game. I call puppy penalties, which can lead to expulsion if necessary, and I also call the touchdowns just like a football referee. And of course, there are always puppy “messes” to clean up.”

The Puppy Bowl will air on Animal Planet on Sunday, February 5th, at 3 pm.

Here are some of the starters from this year’s Puppy Bowl.

All of the competitors in the Puppy Bowl are rescues and are available for adoption. Animal Planet has a few links on its site if you are interested in adopting one of the players. According to the International Business Times, many of the puppies will have already found homes by the time the Puppy Bowl airs.

If cats are more your thing, you’ll be happy to know that the Puppy Bowl will feature a Kitty Half-Time show.

Are you going to watch Puppy Bowl VIII this year?