Move over, Super Bowl! There’s a new game in town and it’s all about cute puppies.
Puppy Bowl One such heartwarming story is that of Joey, a small dog with a big soul who captured the hearts of many.
Get your popcorn ready and get ready to cheer as Joey and his furry friends steal your heart and take the field in this year’s Puppy Bowl!
A two-legged legend was born
The two-legged champion Joey
Little puppy Joey was born without his front legs on Christmas Eve. Because of his circumstances, the family he was born into didn’t know what to do with him, and poor Joey struggled to find a new loving family in his native Connecticut.
When all his children were adopted, Joey felt like an odd puppy. But little did he know that his life would take a leap into the unknown!
Joey’s story quickly captured the hearts of animal lovers around the world and caught the attention of Vintage Pet Rescue in Foster, Rhode Island. Despite the fact that they were mostly older dogs, the rescue couldn’t resist Joey’s curious personality and adopted him last July. Despite his physical limitations, Joey didn’t let anything hold him back. With a not-so-loving round pair and a lot of determination, this puppy quickly learned to walk on two legs. As her story spread, she caught the attention of a loving couple in Tiverton, Rhode Island.
They knew they had to adopt him, and soon enough he had a forever family to call his own.
Joey’s Way To His Furever Home
Joey was adopted by Cathy Larson and her wife, Laurie Thibodeau, through Vintage Pet Rescue, and was added to their pack of five lovely dogs.
Originally named Christmas, his rescuers came up with a new name after noticing his unique hopping ability.
Despite having a custom-built wheelchair, which he received at the rescue, the fun-loving pup has no interest in using it.
Instead, he prefers to move around by “hopping” on his hind legs like a tiny kangaroo, earning him the adorable nickname “Joey.” While they use the wheelchair for feeding, he becomes as still as a statue when they put him in it.
Larson and Thibodeau hoped Joey would become best friends with their three-legged dog, Murphy, and their wish came true.
Joey and Murphy became inseparable, always playing together and keeping each other company.
He’s also made pawesome pals with Shady, a 14-year-old blind dog who lives in the Tiverton home with them. It was clear from the start that Joey had found his perfect match!
Joey quickly settled in with his new family and his canine siblings. But he had bigger dreams.
A Shining Star At The Puppy Bowl XIX
With his hopping skills and playful spirit, Joey was the perfect candidate for the annual Puppy Bowl XIX event.
On the day of the Puppy Bowl XIX, Joey took to the field with his head held high.
Joey was among the 121 adorable pups from 67 shelters and rescues spanning 34 states who participated in the event. Eleven of the puppies, including Joey, were special needs dogs who brought smiles to everyone’s faces!
Despite having only two back legs, Joey didn’t let that slow him down and showed off his energetic and playful side on the field.
His remarkable personality and impressive hopping skills were noticed by the judges of the Puppy Bowl, leading him to win the MVP (Most Valuable Puppy) award.
It’s a well-deserved win for the little pup who has overcome many obstacles to find his loving family and make his mark on the world!
From Underdog To Superstar
From his humble beginnings in Connecticut to his newfound fame as a Puppy Bowl star, Joey’s journey is a true inspiration to us all.
Joey became a real canine celebrity thanks to his adorable and inspiring story of overcoming adversity as a puppy born without his front legs.
His participation in Puppy Bowl XIX and winning the MVP award further solidified his place in the hearts of animal lovers everywhere!
His social media presence and numerous media features have also helped to spread his story and raise awareness about the importance of adopting pets with special needs.
He’s so popular that he even has his own Facebook page called The Adventures of Joey and Friends.
With all the attention Joey is getting nowadays, Larson jokes that he needs his own agent.
She frequently plays the role of a receptionist as she retrieves countless voicemails that are inadvertently left for Joey – it’s almost as if he has his own fan club!
This just goes to prove that the lovable two-legged pup has an undeniable charm that wins the hearts of everyone he meets.
