Puddin’ Pop is the new Puppy Bowl all-star

Every dog has their day but Puddin’ Pop has been celebrating hers in dog years.

Since her filming in the covenant Puppy Bowl in October, the Boxer-Terrier mix has taken a trip to New York, rode on the back of an NYPD motorcycle, met Spider-Man and is holding a live “pawtograph” event at Syberg’s On Market during the Puppy Bowl viewing party this Sunday.

Animal Planet searched the nation to represent as many different breeds and states as they could for their mock 12-on-12 Super Bowl. Puddin’ Pop was selected from the “50 to 100 puppies Stray Rescue has on any given day” after they submitted her photos and story.

“She got chosen and that was big for us,” said Randy Grim, owner of Stray Rescue of St. Louis. “But then we had to keep it quiet and that was hard for us.”

Born July 4, 2015, to a litter of 14, Puddin’ Pop was one of only four who survived. Her mom, Push Pop, was a stray dog who passed on a deadly case of herpes to the young puppies.

Her siblings, Dreamsicle, Bomb Pop and Fudgesicle have all been adopted.

Volunteering at the shelter, Kayla Hatfield of St. Louis first saw Puddin’ Pop and “fell in love with her.” She sent a text photo to her fiance at the time, Mitchell, and the dog joined their new home and new matrimony shortly after.

Despite sporting bright green jerseys with Puddin’ Pop’s picture on the front, the couple has settled into their new found 15-minutes-of-fame.

“It’s weird, but it’s fun all at the same time,” Kayla Hatfield said. “A lot of people love the Puppy Bowl I’ve come to find out.”

“She’s a little bit of a diva, and she likes her time to herself sometimes,” Mitchell Hatfield said. “But she’s a great dog, really couldn’t have asked for a better one.”

After her trip to New York, Puddin’ Pop had another scare after she contracted Canine parvovirus, parvo for short, despite having an unusually high amount of shots and vaccines for filming.

The cause was unknown, but it left Puddin’ Pop dehydrated and unable to keep down food. Upon her arrival home, Stray Rescue immediately hooked her up with IV’s and the virus quickly left.

“Immediately I thought, ‘Is she going to make it?’” Kayla Hatfield said. “Most puppies end up dying from parvo, which is extremely scary.”

Puddin’ Pop currently lives with the Hatfield couple and is going through a series of puppy training classes at the shelter. She spends most of her days sleeping or casually demanding a walk outside.

Grim was excited to work with Animal Planet and even more pleased that Puddin’ Pop ended up in “such a great home.”

“It’s been really fun to see a dog that literally came from nothing to so many people rooting for her and loving her,” Grim said.

For more information on adopting Puddin’ Pop’s mother or adopting in the St. Louis area, Stray Rescue can be reached at 314-771-6121.

This story was originally published February 5, 2016 at 1:34 PM with the headline "Puddin’ Pop is the new Puppy Bowl all-star."