Fox wasn’t the only big ratings winner on Sunday. MULTICHANNEL NEWS reports that Animal Planet’s “Puppy Bowl” also fetched record numbers of viewers.

Over 8 million pet-lovers tuned in to the 12-hour marathon, watching cute li’l doggies run around a small specially-made field while chewing on toys, referee dolls, and each other. Viewership was up 35% from last year’s telecast, as this season’s Bowl was the first to be shown in HD.

With those kind of numbers, maybe Gary Bettman should re-think his deal with Versus.

CAKE ROCKS THE PARTY has an epic post today on Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl™ IV, which is described on the network’s website (in rather boring detail) as. “We’ve traded in linebackers for labradors and quarterbacks for corgis and we’re releasing the hounds for PUPPY BOWL IV on Sunday.”

Sadly, Bryant Gumbel will be bathrobed at home for the big game, as “the renowned Harry Kalas, voice of NFL Films, returns to call the play-by-plays of this year’s game.”

Thankfully, like any ever-vigilant, sports-themed website with an apparent furry bent, CRTP livens things up by breaking down the rosters (by offense and defense no less) for our amusement.

One oversight: How there aren’t any props on what quarter Abigail the Jack Russell runs off with an end zone pylon, we have no idea.