One year ago, two brave puppies embarked on a journey to compete in Puppy Bowl XX to shine the light on pet adoption. Here’s what they’re up to now.
Last February we shared Frankie and Niner’s journey to the Puppy Bowl XX – read more to find out how our two little heroes are doing with their new families one year after their great adventure!

Frankie and Niner representing HSSV and Team Ruff at Puppy Bowl XX
It happens around the same time every year: Friends and families gather together, load up on nachos and cold drinks, and get ready to spend a day in front of the TV yelling for their favorite contenders. Yep, it’s Puppy Bowl season, Animal Planet’s annual competition of cuteness featuring shelter pups from around the country trying to make touchdowns with stuffed toys.
But what happens to the dogs after they participate? The last time we caught up with Frankie and Niner, these pups whose story began humbly when they were brought into our care through the Sue and John Diekman Regional Rescue program, em-barked on a cross country journey from California to New York to compete in Puppy Bowl XX, and had just been adopted by neighbors in Portland, Oregon.

Leslie with Frankie (now Pepper) and Augie (left) and Niner with his human sisters (right)
One year later, we thought we’d catch up with Leslie, who adopted Frankie (now named Pepper) to see what these two pups are up to in their new homes.
How has your life been with Pepper (FKA Frankie) since you adopted her? How has it changed, or grown over time?
“Bringing a second pup into our home was more chaotic than I expected at first. I spent a lot of time training her – she arrived very reactive and just terrified of other dogs, kids, and cars. We spend a lot of time on socialization and keeping her occupied with enrichment. She’s improved a lot, but walks still require a lot of mindfulness. One year in, things have evened out – she and my other dog Augie have a great sibling connection and watching them play and cuddle makes me heart so happy.”

Pepper gives her patient older brother Augie a kiss
Tell us a little about Pepper as you’ve grown to know her.
“She’s a talker! It’s her job to let me know if a squirrel is trespassing or if the mailman is driving by. She chirps at first and then works to enlist Augie in her plans. She loves her Kong and her orange crab – it’s bigger than her and has a low grumbly-squeak. Her favorite game though, is Hallway Fetch: she and Augie race (she’s WAY faster!) down the hallway to retrieve all assortments of toys.”

Pepper is, of course, a 49ers fan for life!
“Augie has always slept at the foot of the bed overnight. But from the beginning, Pepper climbed up on the bed, charged her head into my side, and burrowed closer than close. She spends a lot of the night trying to get even closer. As I wake up in the morning and she senses that I am *actually* moving to get out of bed, she leaps up and puts her front paws and head on my chest as if to say, ‘Not yet, Mama!'”

“Not yet, Mama!”
What is your favorite thing about Pepper?
“She is an ever-present lesson in love, compassion, and patience. I have to remind myself often that she’s just a little girl – she still gets a little scared and her puppy/terrier exuberance can be a lot. But then she switched back to showing her belly and giving kisses and my heart melts.”

Belly rubs, please!
How is Pepper’s brother Frankie doing with his family across the street?
“Niner has a favorite neighborhood-watching spot – on a cushion placed in the front window. He watched deer and raccoons regularly and rushes out to the fence to say hello often He and Frankie have regular play dates – afternoons of dashing madly in the backyard between sharing their favorite sniff spots. He has been a wonderful buddy to their youngest daughter who is growing up learning all about the responsibility of having a puppy – training, talking, feeding, and cleaning up are all ways to get cuddle time with him!”

Niner at his neighborhood watch post
Do you have any words of advice for anyone considering adopting a puppy?
“I can’t overstate how important it is to ask for help when dealing with some of the behavioral issues that can arise when you adopt a puppy. I appreciated the online resources HSSV provided, a well as my local pet support system. Early, consistent training is crucial – such an important part of signaling both safety and boundaries in a new place.”
Ready to bring a deserving animal into your family?
Learn more about how to adopt from HSSV and meet our available animals!
Not ready to adopt? You can still make a gift to help ensure our shelter animals are lovingly cared for until they find that perfect match!
Big thanks to Madera County Animal Services, Sue and John Diekman, HSSV staff, the 49ers, and Animal Planet – all of whom played a role in Pepper and Niner’s success. It takes a village to care for animals in need, and ours came through in full.
One Comment on “Frankie and Niner: Where Are They Now?”
I adopted Daisy (formerly Sadie) from you in November after our beloved Polish cocker died. She has been a total delight… whe watches the house from the front window and sounds the alarm when anyone comes— her bark is much bigger than she is. When I come home she is ecstatic. She eats her breakfast and dinner and cuddles as much as she can. I worried that she would always get compared to our former dogs; but she is a joy and has so much personality, she simply. lights up a room… and snuggles on the family. room couch and watches TV WITH ME.