Video: Puppy Bowl supports pet adoption

Many sports fans in the US are gearing up for the big annual Super Bowl football game this Sunday. If you're not into American football -- or even if you are but would prefer watching cute pets vs. all the pregame hype and coverage -- you might want to check out Puppy Bowl VIII on Animal Planet at 3 pm eastern time. (For those outside the US, video of the "big game" usually is available on the Animal Planet website starting a day or two later.)

The Puppy Bowl is more than just cute and fun to watch; its main intent is to support pet adoption. In fact, the "players" this year come from 59 animal shelters, according to this Wall Street Journal Studio interview with Dan Schachner, the game's referee.

The adoption effort is supported by Petfinder.com, an online pet adoption portal that represents hundreds of animal shelters and rescue groups throughout the US and Canada, including the 59 with animals in the Puppy Bowl. (Petfinder.com's parent company is Discovery Communications, which also owns Animal Planet.)

If you want even more insight into the world of pet adoption -- plus a chance to support it -- consider registering for Petfood Forum 2012. Betsy Banks Saul, founder and present of Petfinder.com, will be the keynote speaker, and shortly after her presentation, pets from nearby Petfinder.com member shelters will visit. Petfood Forum will be organizing a donation effort to support those shelters and the Petfinder.com Foundation (and interested attendees might even be able to adopt the shelters pets!).

Puppy Bowl VIII is sponsored by Pedigree, one of Mars Petcare's brands that does a lot to support pet adoption.

For more cuteness and fun from the Puppy Bowl, check out these behind-the-scenes photos, plus ones of the Piglet Pep Squad (yes, pigs as sideline cheerleaders!) and Kitten Halftime Show.