Delco Pups 'Competing' In Puppy Bowl XXII

MEDIA, PA — Delco is once again being represented in Puppy Bowl XXII this weekend.

This year's Puppy Bowl will air at 2 p.m. on Animal Planet and feature oodles of adoptable puppies from across the country.

So which local pups are set to appear on the broadcast?

Two puppies from Providence Animal Center in Media are getting in on the cutesy fun.

They are brothers "DeVon-tails Smith" and Teddy.

Providence Animal Center Events Coordinator and Volunteer Manager Haley Speed told Patch the pups are Akita-Husky mixes from a litter of 11 puppies that were surrendered to the center.

"DeVon-tails Smith" is actually named Koda. Speed said Puppy Bowl organizers like to give some participants punny names, like they did with local pup "Saquon Barky" in 2025 when the Eagles trounced the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX.

And in a throwback to Super Bowl LVII, the two sibling dogs are "competing" on opposite teams.

DeVon-tails Smith is on Team Ruff, while Teddy is on Team Fluff.

Providence Animal Center has been involved in the Puppy Bowl for about 10 years.

Each year, Speed said, the center is contacted via email by Puppy Bowl organizers, with requests to submit puppies for participation.

"We submitted four puppies, two from one litter each," Speed said. Ultimately, Koda and Teddy were chosen.

The Puppy Bowl is shot well in advance of its airing on Super Bowl Sunday.

Speed said Providence Animal Center staffers took Koda and Teddy to New York State for photos and filming, which takes place over two to three days typically.

Most puppies who participate in the event are already adopted when the program airs, much like Koda and Teddy have already found forever homes.

According to Speed, the Puppy Bowl brings plenty of attention to the center, as well as other rescue and shelter organizations that are involved in the event.

"We see tons of interest on social media because of news coverage," she said. "In turn, people reach out about all the services we offer, not just adoptions."

Providence Animal Center offers training, pet surgery, pet wellness care, and more. It even will take its furry residents to schools, nursing homes, and other institutions in the Delaware County region for events.

Providence Animal Center is teaming up with national animal welfare organization Best Friends Animal Society and Puppy Bowl XXII to host an adoption event at the center from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Adoptions will stop processing at 4:30 p.m. All adoption fees will be 50 percent off. Additional information on the event will be shared on the center's Facebook page.

Providence Animal Center is located at 555 Sandy Bank Road in Media.

Other Philadelphia-area dogs in Puppy Bowl XXII are:

• Lin, Brandywine Valley SPCA, West Chester, Team Ruff
• Shirley, Brandywine Valley SPCA, West Chester, Team Ruff
• Cricket, Harley's Haven, Perkasie, Tem Fluff
• Grasshopper, Harley's Haven, Perkasie, Tem Fluff
• Jill, Phoenix Animal Rescue, Chester Springs, Team Fluff
• Oscar, Phoenix Animal Rescue, Chester Springs Team Ruff

Other puppies from Pittsburgh and Harrisburg are also participating.

Unfortunately, no dogs from Pennsylvania were included in the Pupularity Playoffs. The Pupularity playoffs are down to two finalists: Basset Hound Rhett from Homeward Bound in Mishawaka, Indiana, and Boston Terrier RuPaw from Bosley's Place in Smyrna, Georgia. The winner will be announced Saturday.