Canine From Baltimore Humane Society Plays In Inaugural Dog Bowl

REISTERSTOWN, MD — A pooch from the Baltimore Humane Society was featured this week on the first ever "Dog Bowl" on Animal Planet. Nanook, an 8-year-old Siberian husky, played on Team Paws.

The inaugural Dog Bowl divided up 50 dogs from shelters around the country into two teams: Team Paws and Team Tails. Animal advocate Jill Rappaport hosted the one-hour special, which aired the evening before the Super Bowl and followed dogs as they brought squeaky toys across the goal line.

Nanook was described by the announcer as a "chatty charmer with baby blues that will surely hypnotize you."

In case you missed it, you can catch it online: Watch the Dog Bowl through Animal Planet.

Nanook's charm worked; he was adopted before the show aired.

"Nanook has happily found his home, and proves once again that a senior dog makes a wonderful, loving pet," the Baltimore Humane Society said.

Jeff St. Pierre, a radio show host on 93.1 WPOC, adopted Nanook.

At the end of August, St. Pierre adopted the Siberian husky, who had been brought to the Baltimore Humane Society from an SPCA in Pennsylvania that was closing, Baltimore magazine reported.

The Baltimore County-based shelter had submitted Nanook and four other candidates to Animal Planet for its first ever Dog Bowl before he was adopted. According to Baltimore magazine, the game was actually played in October and recorded well in advance of the Super Bowl.

St. Pierre said his dog "got into an argument with one of the referees" and "we were really excited to see our guy on TV," Baltimore magazine reported.

Both the Puppy Bowl and the Dog Bowl showcased adoptable animals from area shelters in hopes of helping them and more animals currently living in shelters find their forever homes.

The Dog Bowl is a companion event to Animal Planet's Puppy Bowl XIV, which showcases shelter pups. To bring attention to older shelter dogs often passed over for adoption in favor of their younger kennel mates, Animal Planet announced it was featuring dogs with an average age of 7 in the inaugural Dog Bowl.

"Be sure to root for Nanook on Team Paws! And when looking to adopt, be sure to consider a senior pet. They have so much love to give!" the Baltimore Humane Society said.

See adoptable pets at the Baltimore Humane Society in Reisterstown.

The Baltimore Humane Society will continue its celebration of the "bowls" at its annual Black Tie & Tails Gala on Saturday, March 17. One of its guests of honor will be Puppy Bowl referee Dan Schachner. The event will take place at The Grand Lodge in Hunt Valley, and tickets are $125.

Photo courtesy of Baltimore Humane Society.