Iowa puppies rule on 'Puppy Bowl'

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10 photos: Puppies of Des Moines

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Puppies spend time playing and napping in a room at the A Heinz 57 dog rescue facility in De Soto, Iowa. The rescue center has had puppies featured in the Puppy Bowl, the Animal Planet network's accompaniment to the Super Bowl.  Bryon Houlgrave/The Register

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Puppies spend time playing and napping in a room at the A Heinz 57 dog rescue facility in De Soto, Iowa. The rescue center has had puppies featured in the Puppy Bowl, the Animal Planet network's accompaniment to the Super Bowl.  Bryon Houlgrave/The Register

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Puppies spend time playing and napping in a room at the A Heinz 57 dog rescue facility in De Soto, Iowa. The rescue center has had puppies featured in the Puppy Bowl, the Animal Planet network's accompaniment to the Super Bowl.  Bryon Houlgrave/The Register

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The puppies are listed on PetFinder.com.  Bryon Houlgrave/The Register

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Puppies spend time playing and napping in a room at the A Heinz 57 dog rescue facility in De Soto, Iowa. The rescue center has had puppies featured in the Puppy Bowl, the Animal Planet network's accompaniment to the Super Bowl.  Bryon Houlgrave/The Register

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The rescue organization, AHeinz57, might just have the next MVP (Most Valuable Puppy) of the Puppy Bowl. Flying to and staying in New York, where the Puppy Bowl is filmed, can be expensive. Amy Heinz says the publicity from the yearly event is worth every penny.  Bryon Houlgrave/Register photos

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Amy Heinz, owner of AHeinz57 dog rescue center in De Soto, gets a kiss from a puppy. Producers call every year to see if Heinz wants to return to the “Puppy Bowl.”  Bryon Houlgrave/The Register

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Puppies spend time playing and napping in a room at the A Heinz 57 dog rescue facility in De Soto, Iowa. The rescue center has had puppies featured in the Puppy Bowl, the Animal Planet network's accompaniment to the Super Bowl.  Bryon Houlgrave/The Register

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Puppies spend time playing and napping in a room at the AHeinz57 dog rescue facility in De Soto. The rescue center has had puppies featured in the Puppy Bowl, the Animal Planet network's answer to the Super Bowl.  Bryon Houlgrave/The Register

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Puppies spend time playing and napping in a room at the A Heinz 57 dog rescue facility in De Soto, Iowa. The rescue center has had puppies featured in the Puppy Bowl, the Animal Planet network's accompaniment to the Super Bowl.  Bryon Houlgrave/The Register

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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.

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Photos: Dogs of the Downtown Farmers' Market in Des Moines

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From 2012: Rachel Brenner, of Waukee, with Kodak the dog at the Downtown Farmer's Market in Des Moines.  Register file photo

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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.  Register file photo

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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.  Scott Morgan/Special to Juice

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Crystal Podojil and Madyson Peterson, of Des Moines with Nikki.  Andrea Markowski/Special to The Register

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Melinda and Nicole Hyczewski of Bettendorf, with Brewster.  Andrea Markowski/Special to The Register

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Newman the Airedale, whose owner lives in West Des Moines.  Andrea Markowski/Special to The Register

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Bob Eyons, 26, visiting from Washington D.C., with family dog Luke Amadeus from Knoxville.  Andrea Markowski/Special to The Register

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Michelle Parker, 26, of Des Moines, with Charlie.  Andrea Markowski/Special to The Register

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Jillissa Molnari, 22, from Pleasant Hill, with Noelle.  Andrea Markowski/Special to The Register

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Jack the dog with the Labresh family from Des Moines.  Andrea Markowski/Special to The

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Diane Lindaman, 32, of West Des Moines, with Lola.  Andrea Markowski/Special to The Register

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Nancy Jacobson of West Des Moines with Wilbur and Emma.  Andrea Markowski/Special to The Register

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Caleb Prentice of Des Moines, with Pixie.  Andrea Markowski/Special to The Register

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Lance Becker, 33, and Sarah Becker, 29, of Urbandale, with Cooper.  Andrea Markowski/Special to The Register

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Lyn Johnston, of Urbandale, with Maggie.  Andrea Markowski/Special to The Register

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Kevin Jensen, 27, of Ankeny, with Thor.  Andrea Markowski/Special to The Register

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David Spacek and TIna Dodd of Indianola with Gus.  Andrea Markowski/Special to The

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Tigger, owned by Mark Boley.  Andrea Markowski/Special to The Register

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Ben Richter, 29, and Angie Richter, 28, from Grimes with Rosco.  Andrea Markowski/Special to The

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Parker, owned by Adam and Cailin Stockdale of Des Moines.  Andrea Markowski/Special to The Register

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Mickey, owned by Marsha and Ron James of Des Moines.  Andrea Markowski/Special to The Register

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A happy dog hanging out at the downtown Farmer's Market.  Andrea Markowski/Special to The Register

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Josef Miller, 24, of Perry, with Kerberos.  Andrea Markowski/Special to The Register

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Ben Muller, 14, and Kaitlyn Evans, 24, of Des Moines, with Chloe.  Andrea Markowski/Special to The Register

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Margie Finnegan of Grimes, with Butkus.  Michael Watson/Special to Des Mo

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Matt Rotert, 20, Nick Rotert, 23, and Jeff Rotert, 48, of Altoona and Iowa City, with Vinny.  Andrea Markowski/Special to The Register

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Vickie Wirtz, 41, of Polk City, with Daisy.  Andrea Markowski/Special to The Register

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Bella, owned by Sarah Mixdorf of Des Moines.  Andrea Markowski/Special to The Register

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Jayden Bohnsack, 12, and Christian Bohnsack, 40, of Johnston, with Kingston.  Andrea Markowski/Special to The Register

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Tony Meyer, 31, of Des Moines, with Kyra.  Andrea Markowski/Special to The Register

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Tim Hawthorne of Des Moines with Sissy and Queenie.  Michael Watson/Special to Des Mo

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Brian Kinney, of Champaign, Ill., and Lauren Schreiner, of Jonston, with Minnie.  Andrea Markowski/Special to The Register

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Bandit, owned by Jodi Aslim, 40, of Altoona.  Andrea Markowski/Special to The Register

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Cowan and Amber Wasser, both 26, from Des Moines with dogs Gene and Wally.  Andrea Markowski/Special to The Register

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Bailey the dog, with Rachel, Larry, and Carol Zieske of Monroe, Wi.  Michael Watson/Special to Des Mo

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Dexter, owned by Susan Hemminger of Des Moines.  Andrea Markowski/Special to The Register

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Laurie Hall, 52, of Carlisle, with Bella.  Michael Watson/Special to Des Mo

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Krystyn Williams, of Des Moines, with Sofi, and, Chloe.  Michael Watson/Special to the Register

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Tiffany Conrad of West Des Moines, with Cali.  Michael Watson/Special to the Register

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Christina Warren, of Ankeny with Tucker.  Michael Watson/Special to the Register

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Becca Ites, 25,of Des Moines with Kaiser.  Michael Watson/Special to the Register

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Trent Quick, and, Tera Barrett, of Des Moines with Rebel and Brutus.  Michael Watson/Special to the Register

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The downtown farmers market has become one of the most fun places for dogs to be social in town.  Andrea Markowski/Special to The Register

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Mariah Bukke, of Carroll with Bella.  Michael Watson/Special to the Register

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Dana Pardekopper, and, Jess Jeung, of Waukee with Bently and Bella.  Michael Watson/Special to the Register

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Seth Ritter, 24, and, JamieLee Lightfoot, 24, of Waukee with Oz.  Michael Watson/Special to the Register

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Marrisa Kuka, 25, of Ankeny and Cali.  Michael Watson/Special to the Register

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Kristi Perkins, 34, of Des Moines with Cocoa.  Michael Watson/Special to the Register

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Bruce VanGundy, 30, and Sarah Mayes, 22, of Altoona with Bailey and Max.  Michael Watson/Special to the Register

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Kyle Kading, 28, and, Maggie Kading, 26, of Granger with Tucker.  Michael Watson/Special to the Register

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Ashley Donughy, 25, and Barry Knowles, 26, of Bondurant with River.  Michael Watson/Special to the Register

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A puppy checks out some of the sites at the Farmers Market on Saturday morning.  Michael Watson/Special to the Register

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Nora Anderson, of Clive, with Taz and Kitty.  Michael Watson/Special to the Register

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Sarah Schwanebeck, 22, and, Andy Neary, 25, of Knoxville with Wylee.  Michael Watson/Special to the Register

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Kristin Knepper, 30, and, Keshin Meissner, 26, of West Des Moines with Rusty.  Michael Watson/Special to the Register

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Abbi Shorts, 20, and, Rachel Shorts, 22, of Norwalk with Darby.  Michael Watson/Special to the Register

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Brian Bredhoeft, 32, and Vicki Bredhoeft, 28, of West Des Moines with Tucker.  Michael Watson/Special to the Register

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Patrick Thomas, and, Harmoney Thomas, of South Des Moines, with Pigpie and Birthday Cake.  Michael Watson/Special to the Register

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Dahlia Gordon, 19, Casey Morales, 17, Maddie Kreamer, 17, and, Shane Abbott, 18, of Johnston with Luna.  Michael Watson/Special to the Register

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Three Dog Bakery was at Farmers Market to supply the dogs with their treats.  Michael Watson/Special to the Register

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Some of the tasty treats available for dogs from Three Dog Bakery.  Michael Watson/Special to the Register

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People walking their dogs through the crowd at Farmers Market.  Michael Watson/Special to the Register

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Jordan Voigt, 24, and, Christina Melcher, 24, of West Des Moines with Diego, Leo, and, Bo.  Michael Watson/Special to the Register

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Aaron Smith, 28, and Kim Smith, 24, of Carlisle with Austin and Harley.  Michael Watson/Special to the Register

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Craig Miller, and, Debbie Miller, of West Des Moines with Cooper.  Michael Watson/Special to the Register

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A puppy checks out some of the sites at the Farmers Market on Saturday morning.  Michael Watson/Special to the Register

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A puppy rides along on the shoulder of its owner through the packed Farmers Market on Saturday.  Michael Watson/Special to the Register

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Elisabeth Harris, of Dallas Center, with Yoda.  Michael Watson/Special to the Register

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Rachel Daly, 31, of Grinnell with Bella.  Michael Watson/Special to the Register

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A dog walking through the crowd of the Farmers Market on Saturday.  Michael Watson/Special to the Register

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Carol Morela, of Plate City with Paco.  Michael Watson/Special to the Register

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Paco getting a free ride at the Farmers Market.  Michael Watson/Special to the Register

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Megan Zhuja, 25, and, Dritan Zhuja, 29, of Waukee with Nikita.  Michael Watson/Special to the Register

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Panting away the hot summer morning.  Michael Watson/Special to the Register

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Walking through the crowd at the Farmers Market on Saturday.  Michael Watson/Special to Des Mo

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Donnie Mengwisser, of Des Moines with Stella.  Michael Watson/Special to the Register

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Ben Dorman, and, Misty 32, of Ankeny with Jorin.  Michael Watson/Special to Des Mo

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