MUSKEGON, MI – For the second year in a row, a dog from Big Lake Humane Society in Muskegon will be seen competing in the national Puppy Bowl.
Rory is one of two dogs representing the state – along with Trixie from Northern Michigan – in this year’s 21st annual event. They are both part of the Team Fluff starting lineup, and will join 142 rescue puppies, from 80 shelters across 40 states and two countries, selected for this year’s event.
The game will simulcast on Animal Planet, Discovery Channel, TBS, TruTV, Max and Discovery+ at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 9 – also known as Super Bowl Sunday. The pregame show starts at 1 p.m.
Rory is a Husky-Pitbull mix that was born last year in a shelter.
RELATED: Northern Michigan dog headed to Puppy Bowl
Big Lake Shelter Manager Velvet Lyght said the shelter was contacted in June 2024 by Saginaw Animal Control to transfer a pregnant mother dog, Rory’s mom, and another nursing mom with puppies.
Rory’s mom was close to giving birth and the Saginaw shelter was worried they weren’t equipped to handle newborn puppies.
“Rory’s mom was very scared and had been found as a stray running the streets,” Lyght said.
That night, the dog gave birth to seven puppies, one of which died.
Two days later, the dogs were transferred to Muskegon.
Kanga, Rory’s mom, was a “very protective mother,” Lyght said.
“It took a very long time, a lot of patience and hot dogs to get her to trust our staff to let us near her or her puppies,” Lyght said.
Over time, shelter staff gained Kanga’s trust and were able to pet and care for her puppies “under her watchful, maternal eye.”
Rory when he was a one-month-old puppy at Big Lake Humane Society in Muskegon.Photo provided to MLive by Big Lake Humane Society
Rory stood out as the only black and white fluffy puppy next to his brother and sisters – all tan, brown and black with shorter fur.
“He was very shy, often hiding behind a sibling, or their sleeping pool,” Lyght said, of Rory. “We would play music and handle them every day, weighing them to make sure they were gaining weight.”
Rory, left, plays with his brother Tigger, right, at the Big Lake Humane Society in Muskegon.Photo provided to MLive by Big Lake Humane Society
Rory grew to 30 pounds in four months.
At seven weeks old, Rory and his brother were fostered by Karen Gagon and her family who live in Muskegon. The Gagons had recently adopted an older puppy, Audrey, that came on the same transfer as Rory from Saginaw Animal Control.
“Rory gained all sorts of new foster siblings, some furry, some feathered, and a whole lot of human grandchildren to play with,” Lyght said.
The foster family took him to the Lake Michigan beach, sporting an “Adopt Me” badge on his leash.
When Big Lake found out Rory was selected to compete in the Puppy Bowl, the shelter provided the family with a “puppy agility starter pack” to help him learn more than the basics, like going through a tunnel.
Rory practices for the Puppy Bowl in the agility area outside Big Lake Humane Society in Muskegon.Photo provided to MLive by Big Lake Humane Society
“Rory continues to grow, we believe he’ll end up being a big, fluffy, goofy guy who loves everyone he meets,” Lyght said.
Big Lake will again host a “Puppy Bowl Watch Pawty” fundraiser at The Dirty Dog Bar and Grille, 2411 Hall Road in Muskegon.
The tailgate starts at noon and there will be raffles, games and opportunities to meet Rory and adoptable dogs.
Tickets are $5 at the door and kids get in free. There will be a taco bar and Bloody Mary bar.
Last year, Dolly Barkon was the only dog to represent Michigan in the Puppy Bowl.
The beagle mix was found underneath a shed in the Muskegon area when she was only five weeks old.
Lyght said last year Dolly was on the screen for less than 30 seconds and “just laid in the end zone.”
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