While everybody else's Barbies were getting married, Amy Heinz's were adopting dogs — in the form of stuffed animals, of course.
"I've always loved animals and my dream for a long time was to be a vet," Heinz said.
Heinz, 50, never went to vet school (she's an operational risk consultant at Wells Fargo), but in 2008 she started her own animal rescue organization, AHeinz57, which provides adoption and transportation services for animals abandoned or harmed by their owners.
A little outfit in De Soto, AHeinz's profile has risen in recent years due to a string of appearances on the second most-watched football event every February: the "Puppy Bowl."
For the past four years, Heinz provided the popular Animal Planet show with puppies.
The "Puppy Bowl," which films in October in New York and airs the same night as the "Super Bowl," features puppies scoring "touchdowns" by carrying toys over goal lines.
Related: Meet the famous pets of Des Moines | Four pet-friendly bars
"We list our puppies on PetFinder.com and one day four years ago a producer from Animal Planet called and asked us if we'd be willing to put our puppies into the 'Puppy Bowl,'" Heinz said. "I said, 'Of course!'"
She sent photos of a bunch of puppies and three were chosen for their close-up.
The rest, as they say, is history. Now, producers call every year to see if Heinz wants to return to the "Puppy Bowl."
And even though flying to and staying in New York can be (very) expensive, Heinz said the publicity she —and shelter dogs in general — get from the yearly event is worth every penny.
"Animal Planet always credits where the dogs came from and they put their 'puppy profiles' on the website," Heinz said. "The exposure this is giving to dogs in shelters, dogs that really need homes, is just great.
"We'll do it any year they ask."
For more...
AHeinz57 Pet Rescue & Transport, Inc: 109 Guthrie (Hwy 169), De Soto, aheinz57.com.
![Tip and Stella, owned by Candy Henely of Norwalk.]()
1 of 119![From 2012: Rachel Brenner, of Waukee, with Kodak the dog at the Downtown Farmer's Market in Des Moines.]()
2 of 119![From 2014: Kristen McLain of Des Moines her dog Reggie Miller, along with Tim Frank,, of Tuscon, Arizona, at the Downtown Farmer's Market in Des Moines.]()
3 of 119![Steve Blake, 27, of Des Moines with Rufus (left), and Alan Hulleman, 40, of West Des Moines, Saturday, May 3, 2014, during the Farmer's Market in downtown Des Moines.]()
4 of 119![Jessica Williams of Norwalk holds her dog Patch, a 7-year-old Jack Russel-Blue Tick mix, at opening day of the Downtown Farmer's Market on Saturday, May 3, 2014, in downtown Des Moines.]()
5 of 119![Mandi Plagman, 24, and Allie Plagman, 21, both of Adel with Gabe Saturday, May 3, 2014, during the Farmer's Market in downtown Des Moines.]()
6 of 119![Crystal Podojil and Madyson Peterson, of Des Moines with Nikki.]()
7 of 119![Melinda and Nicole Hyczewski of Bettendorf, with Brewster.]()
8 of 119![Jonathan Childress, 30, and Emily Childress, 29, from Ames, with Milton.]()
9 of 119![Newman the Airedale, whose owner lives in West Des Moines.]()
10 of 119![Bob Eyons, 26, visiting from Washington D.C., with family dog Luke Amadeus from Knoxville.]()
11 of 119![Michelle Parker, 26, of Des Moines, with Charlie.]()
12 of 119![Jillissa Molnari, 22, from Pleasant Hill, with Noelle.]()
13 of 119![JoAnn Sandoval of Ames, with Jo-Jo.]()
14 of 119![Mimi Reed, 28, Alex Reed, 7, and Mike Reed, 31, of Des Moines, with Henry.]()
15 of 119![Jack the dog with the Labresh family from Des Moines.]()
16 of 119![Diane Lindaman, 32, of West Des Moines, with Lola.]()
17 of 119![Nancy Jacobson of West Des Moines with Wilbur and Emma.]()
18 of 119![Craig Orr, 56, of Urbandale, with Colby.]()
19 of 119![Caleb Prentice of Des Moines, with Pixie.]()
20 of 119![Lance Becker, 33, and Sarah Becker, 29, of Urbandale, with Cooper.]()
21 of 119![Casey Maday of Des Moines with Floyd.]()
22 of 119![Lyn Johnston, of Urbandale, with Maggie.]()
23 of 119![Kevin Jensen, 27, of Ankeny, with Thor.]()
24 of 119![David Spacek and TIna Dodd of Indianola with Gus.]()
25 of 119![Louann and Mark Gvist of Pleasant Hill with Cagney.]()
26 of 119![Maggie the dog with the Monson family of Des Moines.]()
27 of 119![Tigger, owned by Mark Boley.]()
28 of 119![Boomer, with the Fusco family of Indianola.]()
29 of 119![Ben Boulden, holding Chloe, Julie Boulden, holding Julie, and Alysia Masters, holding Lillie, all of West Des Moines.]()
30 of 119![Ben Richter, 29, and Angie Richter, 28, from Grimes with Rosco.]()
31 of 119![Parker, owned by Adam and Cailin Stockdale of Des Moines.]()
32 of 119![Mickey, owned by Marsha and Ron James of Des Moines.]()
33 of 119![Pollie and Popeye the dogs with the Camcho family of Des Moines.]()
34 of 119![A happy dog hanging out at the downtown Farmer's Market.]()
35 of 119![Josef Miller, 24, of Perry, with Kerberos.]()
36 of 119![Ben Muller, 14, and Kaitlyn Evans, 24, of Des Moines, with Chloe.]()
37 of 119![Margie Finnegan of Grimes, with Butkus.]()
38 of 119![Matt Rotert, 20, Nick Rotert, 23, and Jeff Rotert, 48, of Altoona and Iowa City, with Vinny.]()
39 of 119![Vickie Wirtz, 41, of Polk City, with Daisy.]()
40 of 119![Bella, owned by Sarah Mixdorf of Des Moines.]()
41 of 119![Justin Hofman, 25, of Clive, with Lola.]()
42 of 119![Jayden Bohnsack, 12, and Christian Bohnsack, 40, of Johnston, with Kingston.]()
43 of 119![We even spied a marionette dog making friends at the Downtown Farmer's Market.]()
44 of 119![Tony Meyer, 31, of Des Moines, with Kyra.]()
45 of 119![Herky the dog, owned by Andrea Frost of Altoona.]()
46 of 119![Chips, owned by Harold and Michelle Bryant of St. Charles, IA.]()
47 of 119![Tim Hawthorne of Des Moines with Sissy and Queenie.]()
48 of 119![Brian Kinney, of Champaign, Ill., and Lauren Schreiner, of Jonston, with Minnie.]()
49 of 119![Bandit, owned by Jodi Aslim, 40, of Altoona.]()
50 of 119![Chris Nebons of Des Moines, with Millie.]()
51 of 119![Byron and Sassie, owned by the Heinigers from Des Moines.]()
52 of 119![Cowan and Amber Wasser, both 26, from Des Moines with dogs Gene and Wally.]()
53 of 119![Forrest Rittel of Des Moines, with Elphaba.]()
54 of 119![Bailey the dog, with Rachel, Larry, and Carol Zieske of Monroe, Wi.]()
55 of 119![Brent and Bridget Bott of Des Moines, with Emma and Maggie, two rescue dogs. Emma is currently available for adoption and is being fostered by the Botts.]()
56 of 119![Liz Frantz, of Des Moines, with Hannah.]()
57 of 119![Erica and Kevin Turner of West Des Moines, with Ruby.]()
58 of 119![Dexter, owned by Susan Hemminger of Des Moines.]()
59 of 119![Trisha Richardson, 24, of Des Moines, with Lizzie.]()
60 of 119![Laurie Hall, 52, of Carlisle, with Bella.]()
61 of 119![Vanessa Hornung of Ankeny with Cain.]()
62 of 119![Krystyn Williams, of Des Moines, with Sofi, and, Chloe.]()
63 of 119![Tiffany Conrad of West Des Moines, with Cali.]()
64 of 119![Christina Warren, of Ankeny with Tucker.]()
65 of 119![Becca Ites, 25,of Des Moines with Kaiser.]()
66 of 119![Trent Quick, and, Tera Barrett, of Des Moines with Rebel and Brutus.]()
67 of 119![The downtown farmers market has become one of the most fun places for dogs to be social in town.]()
68 of 119![Mariah Bukke, of Carroll with Bella.]()
69 of 119![Dana Pardekopper, and, Jess Jeung, of Waukee with Bently and Bella.]()
70 of 119![Christina Millang, Andrew Millang, and, Michael Drake, of West Des Moines with Herky.]()
71 of 119![Seth Ritter, 24, and, JamieLee Lightfoot, 24, of Waukee with Oz.]()
72 of 119![Marrisa Kuka, 25, of Ankeny and Cali.]()
73 of 119![Jon Swanson, 28, and, Chelsea Swanson, 28, of West Des Moines with Riley.]()
74 of 119![Kristi Perkins, 34, of Des Moines with Cocoa.]()
75 of 119![Bruce VanGundy, 30, and Sarah Mayes, 22, of Altoona with Bailey and Max.]()
76 of 119![Jessica Lohry, 31, of Johnston with Libby.]()
77 of 119![Kyle Kading, 28, and, Maggie Kading, 26, of Granger with Tucker.]()
78 of 119![Ashley Donughy, 25, and Barry Knowles, 26, of Bondurant with River.]()
79 of 119![A puppy checks out some of the sites at the Farmers Market on Saturday morning.]()
80 of 119![Nora Anderson, of Clive, with Taz and Kitty.]()
81 of 119![Val Foote, 24, and, Jade Miller, 23, of Des Moines with Comet and Jameson.]()
82 of 119![Sarah Schwanebeck, 22, and, Andy Neary, 25, of Knoxville with Wylee.]()
83 of 119![Kristin Knepper, 30, and, Keshin Meissner, 26, of West Des Moines with Rusty.]()
84 of 119![Abbi Shorts, 20, and, Rachel Shorts, 22, of Norwalk with Darby.]()
85 of 119![Brian Bredhoeft, 32, and Vicki Bredhoeft, 28, of West Des Moines with Tucker.]()
86 of 119![Sarah Lursen, 26, and, Chris Lursen, 31, of Des Moines with Amelia and Neville.]()
87 of 119![Kaleen Mixdorf, 28, of Des Moines with Lola.]()
88 of 119![Patrick Thomas, and, Harmoney Thomas, of South Des Moines, with Pigpie and Birthday Cake.]()
89 of 119![Dahlia Gordon, 19, Casey Morales, 17, Maddie Kreamer, 17, and, Shane Abbott, 18, of Johnston with Luna.]()
90 of 119![Three Dog Bakery was at Farmers Market to supply the dogs with their treats.]()
91 of 119![Some of the tasty treats available for dogs from Three Dog Bakery.]()
92 of 119![People walking their dogs through the crowd at Farmers Market.]()
93 of 119![Kelsey Galles, 20, and, Anna Salggau, 20, of West Des Moines with Libby.]()
94 of 119![Jordan Voigt, 24, and, Christina Melcher, 24, of West Des Moines with Diego, Leo, and, Bo.]()
95 of 119![Diego, Leo, and, Bo, hanging out at Farmers Market on Saturday.]()
96 of 119![Aaron Smith, 28, and Kim Smith, 24, of Carlisle with Austin and Harley.]()
97 of 119![Craig Miller, and, Debbie Miller, of West Des Moines with Cooper.]()
98 of 119![Trisha Steines, 27, and, Nick Menke, 30, of Des Moines with Margo.]()
99 of 119![A puppy checks out some of the sites at the Farmers Market on Saturday morning.]()
100 of 119![Libby Filbert, 24, of Beaverdale with Carlos.]()
101 of 119![A puppy rides along on the shoulder of its owner through the packed Farmers Market on Saturday.]()
102 of 119![Diana Day, Kirsten Day, and, Curtis Day, of Des Moines with Luna Lovegood and Nevelle Longbottom.]()
103 of 119![Elisabeth Harris, of Dallas Center, with Yoda.]()
104 of 119![A child socializing with a dog at Farmers Market on Saturday.]()
105 of 119![Rachel Daly, 31, of Grinnell with Bella.]()
106 of 119![A dog walking through the crowd of the Farmers Market on Saturday.]()
107 of 119![Kara Messersmith, of West Des Moines with Ava.]()
108 of 119![Carol Morela, of Plate City with Paco.]()
109 of 119![Paco getting a free ride at the Farmers Market.]()
110 of 119![Semir Duric, of Des Moines with Kyle.]()
111 of 119![Kellie Thayer, 25, of Indianola with Berkley.]()
112 of 119![Megan Zhuja, 25, and, Dritan Zhuja, 29, of Waukee with Nikita.]()
113 of 119![Panting away the hot summer morning.]()
114 of 119![Checking out the sites of the Farmers Market on Saturday.]()
115 of 119![Walking through the crowd at the Farmers Market on Saturday.]()
116 of 119![Donnie Mengwisser, of Des Moines with Stella.]()
117 of 119![Ben Dorman, and, Misty 32, of Ankeny with Jorin.]()
118 of 119![Leaving the hot summer morning at Des Moines Farmers Market.]()
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