Meet the 2 rescue pups representing Arizona in the 2023 Puppy Bowl

KiMi Robinson
Arizona Republic
Phoenix, a cairn terrier mix rescued by Arizona Humane Society, is among the 122 canines who will be featured during Animal Planet's 2023 Puppy Bowl XIX on Feb. 12.

The Puppy Bowl 2023 has drafted two Phoenix-area pups who will tail-wag, tackle and chase their way to the Lombarky trophy on Super Bowl Sunday.

Inya — a chihuahua and miniature pinscher mix rescued by NAGI Foundation — and Phoenix — a cairn terrier mix rescued from Arizona Humane Society — will represent Team Fluff and face off against Team Ruff during Animal Planet's annual TV event on Sunday, Feb. 12. They are among 122 puppies from 67 shelters and rescue organizations who are participating in Puppy Bowl XIX.

Amid the play-by-play commentary by Steve Levy and Taylor Rooks and calls by referee Dan Schachner, Puppy Bowl fans can enjoy views from the water bowl cam and end-zone ground-level pylon cameras. Stay tuned to see which players are awarded the Bissell MVP (Most Valuable Puppy) and Subaru of America Underdog awards.

To see all of this year's Puppy Bowl players, head to https://www.discovery.com/shows/puppy-bowl.

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What to know about Arizona's Puppy Bowl players

Inya, a chihuahua and miniature pinscher mix rescued by NAGI Foundation, is among the 122 canines who will be featured during Animal Planet's 2023 Puppy Bowl XIX on Feb. 12.

Described as "a world class snuggler," Inya is part of the starting lineup and comes from the NAGI Foundation, which provides animal health services, educational programs and "family resources that coincide with traditional values and core principles of First Nations communities," according to its website. The nonprofit, based in Queen Creek, partners with the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.

Phoenix comes from Arizona Humane Society, where she and her six newborn siblings had been brought by a good Samaritan who'd discovered the strays with their mom in July 2022. After some time in the Mutternity Suites and a foster home, Phoenix has found a "loving home," according to AHS.

Though Phoenix and Inya have found homes, 11 shelters will feature puppies available for adoption during the program; go to https://www.discovery.com/shows/puppy-bowl/adopt for more information about adoptable pets.

What time does the Puppy Bowl start?

The 2023 Puppy Bowl will air at noon MST (2 p.m. Eastern Time, 11 a.m. Pacific Time) on Sunday, Feb. 12. The show will be three hours long.

The pregame show will start an hour earlier and "give audiences the inside scoop on the Puppy Bowl draft with exclusive interviews with coaches and players." Make sure to stay tuned for the Kitty Halftime Show.

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What channel is the 2023 Puppy Bowl on?

Inya, a chihuahua and miniature pinscher mix rescued by NAGI Foundation, is among the 122 canines who will be featured during Animal Planet's 2023 Puppy Bowl XIX on Feb. 12.

On TV, the Puppy Bowl will be broadcast on Animal Planet (Channel 119 on CenturyLink, 57 on Cox, 252 on AT&T, 282 on DIRECTV in Phoenix).

How to watch the 2023 Puppy Bowl

There are several ways to stream the Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet and Discovery+.

Viewers with a cable subscription can enter their login information to watch live at https://www.animalplanet.com/live-now, on their cable provider's live TV website or any live TV streaming service.

Dicovery+ subscribers can stream the show at https://www.discoveryplus.com.

Reach the reporter at kimi.robinson@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @kimirobin and Instagram @ReporterKiMi.

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