Dr. Jill Biden has an important message for dog owners amid the ongoingCOVID-19 pandemic.
Seen sitting beside her two adorable German shepherds, Dr. Biden begins her statement, saying, “For a lot of us during this pandemic, our pets have been such a source of joy and comfort — and maybe a bark or two on a video conference.”
“The unconditional love from a dog is one of the most beautiful things on earth and we owe it to them to keep ourselves healthy,” she continues, before asking viewers to “please keep wearing your mask, even when you’re out walking your dog.”
Puppy Bowl XVII contenders.Discovery+/Animal Planet/Elias Weiss Friedman

The upcomingPuppy Bowl— which will air onSuper BowlSunday, Feb. 7, ahead of the big game onDiscovery+and Animal Planet — is promising to be more action-packed than ever this year.
During the three-hour special, 70 adoptable puppies from shelters across the northeast U.S. will compete on Team Ruff and Team Fluff to see who comes out on top and wins the coveted “Lombarky” trophy.
“With theWisdom Panel™ dog DNA test, we’ll find out what’s beyond those big puppy-dog eyes and how each dog’s breed mix might give them an advantage on the field,” a statement about the event says. “We’ll see their skills play out in the brand-new GEICO Stadium, where these adoptable players have even more room to rumble and fumble!”
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“Fan-favorite elements, including slow-motion replays, nose-to-nose action from the famous water-bowl cam and aerial shots of the field from the brand-new TEMPTATIONS™ Sky Box are all back this year, along with epic drone shots ofpuppy players across the arenathat bring audiences as close as possible to all the gameplay action,” the release promises.
“Rufferee"Dan Schachner(who has been covering the Puppy Bowl for 10 years!) will be returning for the big game, and the adorable sporting event will also include “a special profile of actress and animal advocateKristen Bell, who has teamed up withAnnenberg PetSpacein Los Angeles to spend time with Java, a Labrador mix puppy looking for a fur-ever home to snuggle in.”
RELATED VIDEO:The White House Rules for the Bidens' German Shepherds
The inclusion of Dr. Biden and PresidentJoe Biden’sdogs in the annual animal sporting event is a perfect pairing, given the Puppy Bowl’s dedication to pet adoption.
President Biden and Dr. Biden got Champ around Christmas 2008 and brought the beloved pet with them to the vice presidential residence at the U.S. Naval Observatory during the former vice president’s two terms with former PresidentBarack Obama.
Champ and Major are also the first dogs to set paws at the White House since the Obama family’s Portuguese water dogs,Bo and Sunny. Former PresidentDonald Trumpdid not have any pets during his time serving in Washington, D.C.
Puppy Bowl XVII airs Feb. 7 at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT on Discovery+ and Animal Planet
source: people.com