Meet Scoobert, The McHenry County Dog Drafted For Puppy Bowl XVII

Update: Due to programming changes, Scoobert will be featured in discovery+ and Animal Planet’s digital campaigns but will not make an appearance in Puppy Bowl XVII.

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — Last year was a “ruff” one, but there’s at least one thing we can count on in 2021 — a showdown of adorable proportions as a pooch from Woodstock makes an appearance in Animal Planet’s annual Puppy Bowl.

Now in its 17th year, the Puppy Bowl features adoptable pets from rescue shelters across the United States. This year’s three-hour event — a showdown between Team Ruff and Team Fluff — is scheduled to air Feb. 7 at 2 p.m. ET, just a few hours before Super Bowl LV.

Also making a return to the Puppy Bowl is the “Pup Close and Personal” segment, which highlights the canine athletes as well as other adoptable pets from across the country. During the segment, the audience will also meet fabulous senior dogs that are still true puppies at heart, including one senior gentleman from Woodstock.

Aside from the obvious appeal of watching fluffy, huggable puppies tumble over one another as they chase the ball and try to score a touchdown, residents of McHenry County have extra incentive to watch this year.

One senior dog from Young At Heart Senior Pet Adoptions in Woodstock will be featured in the chewable challenge.

Illinois' own Scoobert, from Woodstock, is an 8-year-old boxer mix who, despite having some medical needs, has a special zest for life. Scoobert will be one of the stars of the "Pup Close and Personal" segment.

Scoobert comes from Young at Heart Senior Pet Adoptions, a nonprofit organization dedicated to caring for senior pets. Young at Heart knows "Love Has No Age Limit," so it dedicates itself to ensuring pets can "spend the twilight of their lives surrounded by love and family."

So far, the Puppy Bowl is 16-0 when it comes to adoption rates. Since its inception, 100 percent of all puppy players have found their forever homes, according to a news release from Animal Planet.

Scoobert is among the lucky few who have already found a fur-ever home, said Dawn Kemper, executive director of Young at Heart.

When he's not busy romping around with other pooches at the Puppy Bowl, Scoobert now lives with Mocha, his dog sister, and a McHenry County woman who asked not to be named for privacy reasons.

"The lady who adopted him is a repeat adopter for Young at Heart," Kemper said. "Scoobert is her sixth Young at Heart dog. She had been watching Scoobert for a very long time on our social media pages and website, and she felt like he was waiting for her."

Now, comfortable in their forever home, Scoobert and Mocha have become "the very best rough, tough and rowdy friends," Kemper said.

But before becoming a televised star, Scoobert had to overcome obstacles of his own. Kemper said he was originally rescued from a local open-admission shelter that euthanizes pets.

"He was right on the cusp of being too young for us — around 7 years old, our minimum age — and he was super exuberant," Kemper said. "He was such a good boy that we squeezed him in to our program and took him back with us."

Scoobert then lived at Young at Heart for another eight or nine months while he went through additional house training, Kemper said.

All dogs may go to heaven, but very few get to star in the Puppy Bowl. However, as it turns out, Scoobert's "superstar" personality caught the attention of the Discovery Channel, which reached out to inquire about the four-legged star in the making.

"They came out to Woodstock and spent the day with our dogs, spending time in the facility and spending time with Scoobert," Kemper said. "They got to see a day in the life of a senior dog at Young at Heart."

Those hoping to check out Scoobert's appearance on the small screen can tune in to discovery+ or Animal Planet on Feb. 7.

While the Young at Heart staff are overjoyed that Scoobert is getting his time in the spotlight, they are also constantly working to care for the other pets in their care. Kemper said Young at Heart is usually home to some 50 senior cats and dogs, many of which are up for adoption.

Because the sanctuary takes rehoming pets seriously — "We want their next home to be their last home," Kemper says — it works hard to match pets with the perfect home for them.

Would-be adopters are required to submit an application and meet a series of criteria, including providing a landlord's permission and proof of being at least 21 years old.

Adoptions cost $200 for a dog and $100 for a cat, which go in part to supporting the facility.

Kemper said adopting a senior pet comes with several perks, including bringing home an already-potty-trained pet with more-subdued energy levels.

"The good thing about adopting senior pets is there's not a huge change in your lifestyle when you adopt one, unlike a puppy or a kitten," she said. "There's no adjustment to your sleep schedule and not a lot of training. They're instant companions — you just add the love."

A nonprofit organization, Young at Heart also accepts donations through its website and through fundraisers.

The sanctuary is currently raffling tickets so one lucky person can take home a Peloton stationary bike. Tickets can be purchased online for $50 through Jan. 31.

"Young at Heart is dedicated to rescuing senior dogs and cats, 7 years old or older," Kemper said. "We provide them with a homelike environment in the adoption center and focus on the quality of the time they have, more so than the quantity."