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 79![From 2012: Rachel Brenner, of Waukee, with Kodak the]()
2 of 79![From 2014: Kristen McLain of Des Moines her dog Reggie]()
3 of 79![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 79![Crystal Podojil and Madyson Peterson, of Des Moines with Nikki.]()
5 of 79![Melinda and Nicole Hyczewski of Bettendorf, with Brewster.]()
6 of 79![Jonathan Childress, 30, and Emily Childress, 29, from Ames, with Milton.]()
7 of 79![Newman the Airedale, whose owner lives in West Des Moines.]()
8 of 79![Bob Eyons, 26, visiting from Washington D.C., with family dog Luke Amadeus from Knoxville.]()
9 of 79![Michelle Parker, 26, of Des Moines, with Charlie.]()
10 of 79![Jillissa Molnari, 22, from Pleasant Hill, with Noelle.]()
11 of 79![Jack the dog with the Labresh family from Des Moines.]()
12 of 79![Diane Lindaman, 32, of West Des Moines, with Lola.]()
13 of 79![Nancy Jacobson of West Des Moines with Wilbur and Emma.]()
14 of 79![Caleb Prentice of Des Moines, with Pixie.]()
15 of 79![Lance Becker, 33, and Sarah Becker, 29, of Urbandale, with Cooper.]()
16 of 79![Lyn Johnston, of Urbandale, with Maggie.]()
17 of 79![Kevin Jensen, 27, of Ankeny, with Thor.]()
18 of 79![David Spacek and TIna Dodd of Indianola with Gus.]()
19 of 79![Tigger, owned by Mark Boley.]()
20 of 79![Ben Richter, 29, and Angie Richter, 28, from Grimes with Rosco.]()
21 of 79![Parker, owned by Adam and Cailin Stockdale of Des Moines.]()
22 of 79![Mickey, owned by Marsha and Ron James of Des Moines.]()
23 of 79![A happy dog hanging out at the downtown Farmer's Market.]()
24 of 79![Josef Miller, 24, of Perry, with Kerberos.]()
25 of 79![Ben Muller, 14, and Kaitlyn Evans, 24, of Des Moines, with Chloe.]()
26 of 79![Margie Finnegan of Grimes, with Butkus.]()
27 of 79![Matt Rotert, 20, Nick Rotert, 23, and Jeff Rotert, 48, of Altoona and Iowa City, with Vinny.]()
28 of 79![Vickie Wirtz, 41, of Polk City, with Daisy.]()
29 of 79![Bella, owned by Sarah Mixdorf of Des Moines.]()
30 of 79![Jayden Bohnsack, 12, and Christian Bohnsack, 40, of Johnston, with Kingston.]()
31 of 79![Tony Meyer, 31, of Des Moines, with Kyra.]()
32 of 79![Tim Hawthorne of Des Moines with Sissy and Queenie.]()
33 of 79![Brian Kinney, of Champaign, Ill., and Lauren Schreiner, of Jonston, with Minnie.]()
34 of 79![Bandit, owned by Jodi Aslim, 40, of Altoona.]()
35 of 79![Cowan and Amber Wasser, both 26, from Des Moines with dogs Gene and Wally.]()
36 of 79![Bailey the dog, with Rachel, Larry, and Carol Zieske of Monroe, Wi.]()
37 of 79![Dexter, owned by Susan Hemminger of Des Moines.]()
38 of 79![Laurie Hall, 52, of Carlisle, with Bella.]()
39 of 79![Krystyn Williams, of Des Moines, with Sofi, and, Chloe.]()
40 of 79![Tiffany Conrad of West Des Moines, with Cali.]()
41 of 79![Christina Warren, of Ankeny with Tucker.]()
42 of 79![Becca Ites, 25,of Des Moines with Kaiser.]()
43 of 79![Trent Quick, and, Tera Barrett, of Des Moines with Rebel and Brutus.]()
44 of 79![The downtown farmers market has become one of the most fun places for dogs to be social in town.]()
45 of 79![Mariah Bukke, of Carroll with Bella.]()
46 of 79![Dana Pardekopper, and, Jess Jeung, of Waukee with Bently and Bella.]()
47 of 79![Seth Ritter, 24, and, JamieLee Lightfoot, 24, of Waukee with Oz.]()
48 of 79![Marrisa Kuka, 25, of Ankeny and Cali.]()
49 of 79![Kristi Perkins, 34, of Des Moines with Cocoa.]()
50 of 79![Bruce VanGundy, 30, and Sarah Mayes, 22, of Altoona with Bailey and Max.]()
51 of 79![Kyle Kading, 28, and, Maggie Kading, 26, of Granger with Tucker.]()
52 of 79![Ashley Donughy, 25, and Barry Knowles, 26, of Bondurant with River.]()
53 of 79![A puppy checks out some of the sites at the Farmers Market on Saturday morning.]()
54 of 79![Nora Anderson, of Clive, with Taz and Kitty.]()
55 of 79![Sarah Schwanebeck, 22, and, Andy Neary, 25, of Knoxville with Wylee.]()
56 of 79![Kristin Knepper, 30, and, Keshin Meissner, 26, of West Des Moines with Rusty.]()
57 of 79![Abbi Shorts, 20, and, Rachel Shorts, 22, of Norwalk with Darby.]()
58 of 79![Brian Bredhoeft, 32, and Vicki Bredhoeft, 28, of West Des Moines with Tucker.]()
59 of 79![Patrick Thomas, and, Harmoney Thomas, of South Des Moines, with Pigpie and Birthday Cake.]()
60 of 79![Dahlia Gordon, 19, Casey Morales, 17, Maddie Kreamer, 17, and, Shane Abbott, 18, of Johnston with Luna.]()
61 of 79![Three Dog Bakery was at Farmers Market to supply the dogs with their treats.]()
62 of 79![Some of the tasty treats available for dogs from Three Dog Bakery.]()
63 of 79![People walking their dogs through the crowd at Farmers Market.]()
64 of 79![Jordan Voigt, 24, and, Christina Melcher, 24, of West Des Moines with Diego, Leo, and, Bo.]()
65 of 79![Aaron Smith, 28, and Kim Smith, 24, of Carlisle with Austin and Harley.]()
66 of 79![Craig Miller, and, Debbie Miller, of West Des Moines with Cooper.]()
67 of 79![A puppy checks out some of the sites at the Farmers Market on Saturday morning.]()
68 of 79![A puppy rides along on the shoulder of its owner through the packed Farmers Market on Saturday.]()
69 of 79![Elisabeth Harris, of Dallas Center, with Yoda.]()
70 of 79![Rachel Daly, 31, of Grinnell with Bella.]()
71 of 79![A dog walking through the crowd of the Farmers Market on Saturday.]()
72 of 79![Carol Morela, of Plate City with Paco.]()
73 of 79![Paco getting a free ride at the Farmers Market.]()
74 of 79![Megan Zhuja, 25, and, Dritan Zhuja, 29, of Waukee with Nikita.]()
75 of 79![Panting away the hot summer morning.]()
76 of 79![Walking through the crowd at the Farmers Market on Saturday.]()
77 of 79![Donnie Mengwisser, of Des Moines with Stella.]()
78 of 79![Ben Dorman, and, Misty 32, of Ankeny with Jorin.]()
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