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5-month-old boxer from Salem ruff and ready in Puppy Bowl
By Elise Franco
Salem
A 5-month-old boxer mix will make his hometown proud today by competing in what’s arguably the most-watched program by animal lovers on Super Bowl Sunday.
Salem, who was found abandoned near the Humane Society of Columbiana County in October, was chosen to take part in Puppy Bowl VIII.
The program, which features rescued puppies playing on a faux gridiron and kittens performing a halftime show, airs at 3 p.m. today on Animal Planet.
Johnna Parke of Salem began following the humane society’s Facebook page and spotted the dog.
Shortly after the program was filmed in mid-October, Parke adopted the pup and made him a permanent part of her family.
“He just was cute as a hoot,” she said. “I had lost a dog last year ... and when Salem came along, I knew I had to have him.”
Parke said a large group of family and friends plans to watch her pup in the Puppy Bowl today.
“We’re very proud of him,” she said. “I’ll have about 20 people over today. We’re going to have food and fun.”
Salem, who was 11 weeks old when the program was filmed, snagged a starting spot in the Puppy Bowl thanks to photos posted on Facebook and Petfinder by humane-society workers.
He was one of 50 dogs between 9 and 15 weeks old chosen to participate in the bowl.
Columbiana’s humane society usually handles animals involved in abuse and neglect cases but takes in abandoned pets when room permits.
Heather Jurina, manager of the Humane Society of Columbiana County in Salem, said the publicity Salem received recently has helped bring more attention to the shelter.
“We’ve definitely had more phone calls and inquiries about adoptable pets that are available just like Salem was,” she said. “That opportunity we were given has definitely helped the organization and brought awareness to adopting versus buying a pet.”
It is a no-kill, no-suffer center that holds animals until they are adopted.
To view animals available for adoption, residents can visit the shelter Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 7 p.m., Fridays 1 to 7 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., or visit columbianahumane.org.