Meet Pete: Puppy Bowl competitor and future service dog

A service dog in training will compete in Puppy Bowl XIV, which airs this Sunday at 3 p.m. Eastern time on Animal Planet.

Pete, who is training with the Woodbridge, Virginia-based Semper K9 to be a service dog for a disabled veteran, will compete in this year’s Puppy Bowl under the name Alvin.

“We are thrilled to have Pete included in this year’s Puppy Bowl,” Semper K9’s executive director and founder Christopher Baity said in a news release. “I love that this event showcases the importance of rescue dogs and, in our case, rescue dogs trained to be service dogs for disabled veterans.”

Semper K9 adopted Pete and his brother Duff from Operation Paws for Homes, their official rescue partner. They both will be ”tailgating” with fans at a Puppy Bowl viewing party at the Wag & Brew in Alexandria, Virginia, from 3-6 p.m. Sunday.

Pete is named after Air Force 1st Lt. Louis “Pete” Via, who completed 15 combat missions during WWII with the 305th Bomb Group of the Eighth Air Force.

Animal Planet created their annual Puppy Bowl in 2005 to raise awareness about pet adoptions and rescues. Dogs on teams Ruff and Fluff compete to score the most touchdowns with dog toys, as long as they can avoid furry fumbles and puppy penalties called by the “Rufferee.”

For fans of football played by humans, Super Bowl LII will kick off at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time on NBC.

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