Former Las Cruces shelter dog ‘Dracula’ to play in the ‘Puppy Bowl’

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico -- A former Las Cruces shelter dog named "Dracula" will take the field for Animal Planet's annual "Puppy Bowl" game that offers TV viewers an alternative to the Super Bowl.

Officials at Animal Planet confirmed Dracula will be on the roster as a backup player for their version of Sunday's big game after being "drafted" by the defending Puppy Bowl champs, Team Ruff.

The cable television network released Dracula’s official Puppy Bowl portrait photo (see the top of this article) and a practice video where she displays some of her moves (also viewable toward the top of this article).

How did Dracula, whose former name was "Tawny," go from being a stray on the streets of Las Cruces to becoming a TV star?

Melissa Mesulam, a publicist for Animal Planet, told ABC-7 that Tawny was picked up back in July of last year along with her mom "Meena" and big brother "biggie" after being abandoned.

"Dracula’s mother (actually) had six puppies but unfortunately, four of them died," Mesulam explained.

The surviving doggy trio were impounded at the Animal Services Center of the Mesilla Valley when Tawny, now Dracula, was just a few days old, the publicist said. After spending a few weeks at the Las Cruces shelter, Dracula was transferred to a dog rescue in Portland, Oregon.

"The story has a happy ending as Dracula has been adopted and is now taking the field in Sunday’s Puppy Bowl XVI," said Mesulam.

Las Cruceans are celebrating Dracula's rags to riches story in a social media post in a popular pets group.

"From the streets of Las Cruces to the Puppy Bowl…. Yes, Las Cruces has a sports star who’ll be at this Sunday’s Puppy Bowl XVI," reads the post by Lost2Found Pets Las Cruces.