Animal Planet’s crowd-favorite Puppy Bowl is right around the corner, airing on Sunday, February 9 — just before another big sporting event.
The big game between Team Ruff and Team Fluff will include 142 rescue puppies from 80 shelters across 40 states and two countries, showing dog lovers across the country the joy and delight that come from pet adoption.
To celebrate — and to encourage responsible animal lovers to adopt a new furry friend of their own — Lyft will offer discounted Pet Rides between February 2 and February 9.
“Designed with animal lovers in mind, Lyft’s Pet Rides allows riders to match with drivers who are pet-friendly and ready to welcome furry friends into their vehicles,” a press release from the company shares.
For a $4 (plus tax) fee, riders can opt for a driver who is open to accommodating pets. According to the company, this fee “goes entirely to the driver.”
During Puppy Bowl season, however, the rideshare app is offering 50% off two Pet Rides (up to $20 per ride) with the mission of getting folks to and from animal shelters with a new adoptee or foster in tow.
All riders have to do is use code PUPPYBOWL to access the discount in the app.
Pet Rides are a newer offering from Lyft that debuted in August of 2024. While reports from the company show that most of Pet Rides are taken to pet stores, vets, or on vacation or camping trips, they hope this offering helps encourage riders to choose a local shelter as their destination.
"At Lyft, we know how important furry friends are to our riders," Audrey Liu, Lyft's executive vice president and head of rider and community safety, told Good Good Good. "Our goal is to make it easier than ever to not only find your new best friend, but bring them along for the ride with our Pet Rides feature, espeically during the weekend of the Big Game."
The week of the Super Bowl, pet riders in New Orleans may also be surprised with a Pupmobile as their ride, which will be filled with Puppy Bowl swag and toys for furry friends.
While it’s a fun marketing feature, the ultimate goal of this partnership — and the Puppy Bowl — is to help more animals find “furever” homes.
During the Puppy Bowl broadcast, viewers can expect “inspiring adoption stories … as the adorable pups race and chase their way to the end zone, all in hopes of winning the ‘Lombarky’ trophy and finding their fur-ever homes,” according to Animal Planet.
Need to brush up on the highlights before the big game? Meet all of the Puppy Bowl athletes — who are available for adoption.
Header image courtesy of Lyft
