Two Local Pups to Play in Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl XIX

Two local St. Pete puppies are going to make their national television debut next month. Nancy and Max will take the field as they play for Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl XIX. Nancy and Max were rescued by a local animal rescue group, Compassion Kind of St. Petersburg. Both dogs will play for Team Ruff. Nancy will also serve as a team cheerleader.

Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl XIX

The Animal Planet Puppy Bowl raises awareness about the importance of adoption by having rescue puppies play and run a mini-gridiron. There were 122 rescue pups in Puppy Bowl XIX, from 67 shelters and rescue groups from all over the country. While the Puppy Bowl is yet to air, it has already been recorded. Nancy and Max went to Glen Falls, New York, for the show’s taping.

Nancy, who is now six-months-old, is a small and gentle female terrier mix. Compassion Kind rescued Nancy’s mother from a hoarding case in Puerto Rico, and Nancy was one of the smallest in the litter. Michelle Merlo of St. Petersburg adopted Nancy and renamed her Nova.

NewsAja NikiyaFebruary 6, 2023rescue, puppy, puppybowl, puppy bowl 2023, animal planet

Ready, Set, Pup! Introducing the Local Stars of Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl XIX

For anyone who likes watching the annual Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet, you'll get to see two Tampa Bay-area rescue pups take the field this year.

NewsAja NikiyaFebruary 2, 2023puppies, puppy bowl, puppy bowl 2023, rescue, tampa bay, dogs, rescue dogs

Puppies Rescued From Puerto Rico Spread Love To Dolphins in Clearwater

Nine, eight-week-old puppies decked out in designer duds spent the day before Valentine’s making new friends at the ClearwaterMarine Aquarium.

Aja NikiyaFebruary 14, 2022rescue, dolphin, puppies, nonprofit, dogs, Clearwater

Meet the Players: Starting Lineup & Pupularity Playoff Contenders

Introducing the Starting Line Up taking to the field this PUPPY BOWL XVIII! Before the big game, get to know more about these adoptable pups and the incredible shelters and rescues they represent.

Aja NikiyaJanuary 18, 2022puppybowl, rescue, puppies, superbowl, puppybowl2022, animalplanet, discovery

The Puppy Bowl Is Back and It's Packing More Pets into Super Bowl Sunday than Ever Before

The Puppy Bowl is back for its 18th year. As is tradition, the adorable canine competition will feature adoptable puppies from all over North America bounding around a dog-sized stadium while attempting to play their version of football. The most impressive four-legged players will be awarded the "Lombarky" trophy.

Aja NikiyaJanuary 18, 2022rescue, puppybowl, superbowl, puppies

Florida families needed to foster friendly dogs rescued off Puerto Rican streets

Rescue dogs, many of them from Puerto Rico, are in desperate need of foster families. It is easy to host a dog and it won't cost you a dime.

NewsAja NikiyaJanuary 22, 2021animals, animal rescue, Puerto rico, satos, dogs

Check out the story of Marsha - a blue-eyed pup found abandoned on a Cameron Parish island 18 days after Hurricane Laura.

Aja Nikiya of Compassion Kind rescues dog trapped on island in Creole, Louisiana.

NewsAja NikiyaNovember 30, 2020disaster relief, animal rescue

Tampa animal rescue helping animals affected by Hurricane Laura

Aja Nikiya Estro has been on the ground with her team, working 20 hour days to rescue animals affected by hurricanes. She was in the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian and right now, she's in Lake Charles, Louisiana, which was hit hard by Hurricane Laura.

NewsAja NikiyaNovember 30, 2020disaster relief, animal rescue