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Meet the ‘Big’ Mass. dog taking part in this year’s Puppy Bowl

Max, aka "Big Man," will participate in Sunday's Puppy Bowl ahead of Super Bowl LVIII.

Max, also known as Big Man, posed for his official Puppy Bowl photo on Oct. 3. Courtesy

February 11, 2024

1 minute to read

An MVP Massachusetts pup made it to the nation’s most-watched adopt-a-dog event.

A Boston-area rescue puppy from Great Dog Rescue New England made it as a team player in Puppy Bowl XX, which will air before this Sunday’s Super Bowl LVIII.

The 8-month-old Chihuahua-Pomeranian mix is named Max, but also goes by the nickname “Big Man.” Max hails from Waltham, where he now lives with his adopted family.

Max has three fur siblings and a 5-year-old human brother. His favorite activities are playing fetch and having his photo taken.

“He’s all things cute, happy puppy, and feisty,” Max’s owner, Erin Barnicle, told The Boston Globe. “He’s a funny little guy.”

Max will compete for the “Lombarky” trophy at Sunday’s Puppy Bowl XX, where “the adorable pups race and chase their way to the end zone,” the website said.

Puppy Bowl is an annual television event highlighting animals up for adoption in rescues and shelters across the country.

This year, 73 shelters and rescues from 36 states will bring 131 adoptable puppy players out to represent “Team Ruff” and “Team Fluff.” Four past participants will also be inducted into the Puppy Bowl Hall of Fame.

Max, who will play for “Team Fluff,” is the only Puppy Bowl dog representing Massachusetts this year.

The event airs at 2 p.m. ET and 11 a.m. PT on Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS, TruTV, discovery +, and Max.