Puppy Bowl Returns This Sunday To Animal Planet

Before you watch the Super Bowl, you can watch the other big game on Sunday. It's Puppy Bowl IX, and it airs Sunday afternoon at 3 Eastern on Animal Planet.

Once again, dogs will run around a fake football field for our amusement. Puppy Bowl IX will also feature hedgehog cheerleaders and the return of the kitten halftime show. If you've never watched a Puppy Bowl before, it's a pet-friendly spin on football.

There is a referee, and penalties including "paws" interference instead of "pass" interference, and instead of ineligible "receiver" down field, it becomes ineligible "retriever" down field. There's also a penalty for "excessive cuteness." This special show has done very well over the past several years, and if you are a pet-lover you may find it an enjoyable warm-up to the big game.