The Super Bowl is not the only big game to look forward to this Sunday as the annual Puppy Bowl is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

Dallas, a wire-haired terrier, and Melody, a rescue mix, will represent SPCA Westchester in this year's Puppy Bowl. Animal Planted invited the Briarcliff Manor shelter to participate, making it a first for the SPCA in the event's milestone 20 years. When deciding which two pups they wanted to send, the shelter knew Melody and Dallas were the right choices.

"These two pups just stood out because they were so social and sweet," said Lisa Bonanno, Director of Development at SPCA Westchester. "They just were non-stop playing with all the other dogs here."

The goal of the annual event is to promote the importance of adoption throughout the United States. Every puppy that plays in the Puppy Bowl is an adoptable pet from a shelter nationwide. Dallas and Melody have been adopted since filming the game, but Bonanno hopes the Puppy Bowl will resonate with viewers who will come in and meet plenty of the puppies available. That includes the latest additions to the SPCA: four Border Collie/Great Pyrenees mixes. 

"We're hoping, especially with adoptions being down nationwide...we'll see an uptick in people coming out to rescue," she said. "We're just so happy to get the word out about our shelter, and hopefully it's going to help a lot of other groups as well."

As for Dallas and Melody, their new families already have plans to celebrate their rise to fame. 

"[The] two lucky families that adopted Dallas and Melody...were so excited to find out that they're going to be superstars on TV," Bonanno said. "Both I know are hosting parties with their friends and family...kind of like a watch party before the Super Bowl so that they can watch their pups in the Puppy Bowl."

Dallas and Melody will star in the Puppy Bowl this Sunday at 2 p.m. on Animal Planet, Discovery, Discovery+, MAX, TBS and truTV.

If you are interested in adopting from SPCA Westchester, head to the shelter's website.