2026 Pooch Playoffs

Annabelle, or “Anna-belly,” is a 10-year-old Miniature Australian Shepherd, who was spotted immediately by her human because she “looked like an Ewok (from Star Wars).”

Likes: food; and her cat sister, Louis.

Dislikes: Working out; and the heat.

Superpowers: Can hear cellophane being unwrapped anywhere within a five-mile radius; and can catch food thrown at supersonic speeds.

Hobbies: Eating; and napping

Guilty Pleasure: Snoring like a trucker (no offense to truckers).

Obsessed with: Having her belly rubbed; and bacon.

Ares was residing in a local shelter as a stray, before moving to Alachua County Animal Resources shortly afterwards to look for a new home. The 3-year-old bulldog mix who entered the Pooch Playoffs courtesy of Meldon Law has decided that 100 days living at the ACAR is long enough and is waiting for his forever human.

Likes: When his volunteer friends take him on adventures (especially when the adventures involve naps)

Dislikes: Exercise at a pace faster than a walk

Superpower: His gentle, easygoing nature in the face of adversity 

Hobbies: Stopping and smelling the roses

Guilty Pleasure: Plush toys

Obsessed with: Carrying around stuffed animals in his mouth

Siblings Beau and Bella were secretly entered into the 2026 Pooch Playoffs by their human grandma while their immediate human family was vacationing during Spring Break. Beau is the younger of the Miniature American Shepherd siblings at 8 months, while Bella is an enthusiastic 2.5 years old. They will return home to Tallahassee after the short break.

Likes: Chasing, tumbling and cuddling

Dislikes: Beau - walking on a leash; Bella - stairs

Superpowers: Beau - jumping; Bella - eating fast & sneaking and chewing things she shouldn’t

Hobbies: Both - kissing

Guilty Pleasure: Both - Like chasing, tumbling and cuddling

Dislikes: Beau - walking on a leash; Bella - stairs

Benjamin Franklin was hanging out with his brother and moved into the Alachua County Animal Resources 220 days ago before entering the Pooch Playoffs courtesy of Meldon Law. The 2.5-year-old hound/terrier is waiting to discover his forever human.

Likes: Playing with his puppy friends, splashing in the pool, sitting in laps

Dislikes: How no one has adopted him yet

Superpower: Ben has an old leg injury but with the power of positivity he doesn’t let anything slow him down! 

Hobbies: Carrying his food dish around when he’s hungry or wants to entertain 

Guilty Pleasure: Lunch meat

Obsessed with: His shelter girlfriend, Paris

Buie, pronounced BOO-ee, has lived with three different human families before settling on her current one. The three-year-old Labrador Retriever was rehomed from a family on Facebook that was tired of the friendship he devoured with their chickens.

Likes: Car rides, playing fetch, removing the insides of anything that could possibly contain fluff 

Dislikes: Being told she can’t go on car rides and being separated from her humans

Superpower: Likely having taken courses with the great Houdini, with an undeniable swiftness and cleverness, Buie can escape any prison you think you have contained her in. 

Hobbies: Exploring the neighborhood streets (during her great escapes) and making as many new friends as possible along the way! 

Guilty Pleasure: Sneaking into the pantry to find snacks mom recently bought from the grocery store. 

Obsessed with: Ear scratches, belly rubs, and taking up as much possible space on her human’s bed as possible.

Connor, who is competing in the Pooch Playoffs courtesy of Meldon Law’s donation, was originally a stray. He was found by a kind family and brought into Alachua County Animal Resources shortly after. The 4.5-year-old Heeler/Bull Terrier mix has been waiting for his furever for over 100 days. 

Likes: Getting a chance to use his big boy brain

Dislikes: Rain (it interferes with his fetch game) 

Superpower: Eye contact

Hobbies: Amateur model; yet to land a contract but already making waves in the industry 

Guilty Pleasure: Being told he’s a very good boy

Obsessed with: His ball (please, please, PLEASE throw it!)

Finn was hanging out at Sunday Acres Canine in Fort White where he spotted his forever human! He is a playful 1.5 year-old Cockapoo.

Likes: toys, treats, walks, and his brother (Bentley)

Dislikes: The vacuum

Superpower: Once he loves you, he loves hard and he'll make you fall in love with him

Hobbies: Playing fetch, destroying toys, and sleeping

Guilty Pleasure: Counter surfing

Obsessed with: Toys and Bentley

Hank is a lovable mix of Boxer, English Shorthaired Pointer, Labrador Retriever and Pitbull. After he found his forever sports-loving humans, he changed his name to their favorite baseball player.

Likes: People food, walking on the trails

Dislikes: Baths

Superpower: Knowing when someone doesn’t feel well and staying by their side the entire time, no matter how long.

Hobbies: Napping, running in the pit with his cousin, removing the squeaker from a new toy in less than 30 seconds

Guilty Pleasure: Chasing the cats in the house

Obsessed with: Treats and his mom

After much curiosity, Mabel submitted her DNA for testing and recently discovered that she is a delightful mix of a number of different breeds, including Plott Hound, German Shepherd, American Pit Bull Terrier, Labrador Retriever and American Staffordshire Terrier. The year-and-a-half old found her forever human in Alachua.

Likes: Lay in the sunshine

Dislikes: Her crate

Superpower: Wiggling out of her harness

Hobbies: Walking through our woods, watching the cows, playing ball

Guilty Pleasure: Peanut butter

Obsessed with: Her hedgehog

Mandrake was just three weeks old hanging out on the porch of a home in Lake City with his 11 siblings, when he spotted his forever human. The Lab/Great Dane/Great Pyrenees mix is now almost two and half years old.

Likes: Kraft single cheese slices, all his technicians at the vet, his orange foam dog ball, and nature trails in the mountains. He mostly loves his feline older sister “Scab” 

Dislikes: Most human food (aside from pepperoni and cheeseburgers), dislikes yelling, his older feline brother “Bean” because he is mean, and most of all he hates the cold. He would much rather be cuddled in a heated blanket.

Superpower: Tail-Way Telepathy, you can expect him to use his tail to draw you in for love and affection. He will wag his tail and all your problems melt away. Even during a blood draw when he is helping teach someone new, his wagging tail evokes immense peace and encouragement.

Hobbies: Sleeping, KING OF SLEEPING IN. He is also willing to go and try anything new that his human introduces him to.

Guilt Pleasure: Toilet drinker, nothing is better than freshly flushed toilet water in the morning.

Obsession: Head rubs in the morning. He wakes up in the morning waiting for his eye and head rubs before starting his day.