Dogs made their first entrance to Animal Planet’s “Puppy Bowl IX” in New York to the sound of a roaring crowd. The Puppy Bowl, an annual two-hour TV special that mimics a football game with canine players, made its debut eight years ago on Animal Planet. Dogs score touchdowns on a 10-by-19-foot gridiron carpet when they cross the goal line with a toy.

Lots of action on the field!

All of the players are shelter puppies up for adoption.

Read more: Animal shelters real winners of ‘Puppy Bowl’

The puppies let their energy out on the field, and then cool down in a cool-down tub. They also take drinks of water on the sidelines captured by the drink cam stationed at the bottom of the bowl.

Puppies jump and play and tumble with the toys on the field—and each other.

Some of the puppies talk smack to each other.

And some of the puppies decide to rest.

The referee talked to a puppy during the game.

The referee called nap time during Puppy Bowl IX. Some of the dogs also receive penalties for “excessive cuteness.”

The Kitty Halftime Show is filled with frisky kitties and fun music. Other fun extras to the main event include the hedgehog cheerleaders and Meep the Bird, who tweets from the sidelines.

Boston.com Pets tweeted too, pulling in reactions from local pet owners.