My husband is rooting for the Steelers this Sunday. And that would be fine, except I'd really rather that Pittsburgh didn't win this year's Super Bowl. Plus he tends to get a little vocal and overexcited, shall we say, about his sports teams. So rather than spend the day listening to him pout—or gloat—depending on the score, I might have to spend some time in another room doing something a lot less stressful.

Animal Planet has an alternative for everyone who's team isn't playing or just can't stand the sport— Puppy Bowl V. For the fifth year in a row, you can tune in to watch 20 adorable and adoptable puppies play while announcers comment on their antics. Once you've seen the first half, watch the halftime show to see some very cute kittens frolic on the field.

All the pets, as well as more than 270,000 others, are available for adoption at Petfinder.com, so if you fall in love with one of these precious players—and how could you not—you can search the site to find a new best friend. I'm certainly tempted to bring one home.

Above: Schroder will be playing in the Puppy Bowl. He is from the PAW-fect Match Rescue in Holly Springs, NC.

My husband wants a new puppy. And of course I can't blame him. After all, my dog is pretty terrific and pretty spoiled. Of course, he more than gives back to us the love and affection we heap on him. But it didn't have to turn out like that for him or me. Like countless other dogs he started out in an animal shelter, where I found and rescued him.

I've had "pound puppies" for most of my life and have found them to be some of the very best pets. That's why I have to mention a cause that's near to my heart. Tomorrow, January 24, is Change a Pet's Life Day. Shelters across the country are offering free pet adoptions for both dogs and cats. And with shelters overflowing with animals that have been abandoned after their owners lost their home to foreclosure, there's no better time to pick out a new member of the family.

So visit a shelter. You may find that adopting a new pet will change both your lives for the better. My husband and I may even see you there.

The Obama family is one step closer to choosing the first pet, the president-elect announced this past weekend. They've narrowed down their choices to either a Labradoodle or a Portuguese Water Dog.

Both dogs are good choices for a family that needs a hypoallergenic alternative. A Labradoodle is a cross between a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle. The Poodle part makes them smart and non-shedding, which is remarkable considering how much hair a Labrador can lose. (I speak from experience, having owned a beautiful black Lab.) Not unlike Poodles, Portuguese Water Dogs have a thick, curly coat that protects them in the water but won't leave a trail of dog hair all over the White House. Although I've never owned a Portuguese Water Dog, a good friend of mine does and she swears he's loyal and loving, with lots of energy—an ideal family pet.

Of course, deciding on a breed is just the first step in the difficult task of finding the perfect pet. I personally must have spent hours online researching dog breeds and animal rescues and visited at least five animal shelters before bringing home my own furry friend more than 10 years ago. President-elect Obama has voiced his desire to rescue a dog from a shelter, rather than purchase it from a breeder or pet store and most Americans agree that this would be the best choice, according to a new poll by the AP and Petside.com. More than 44 percent of people asked think that the Obamas should rescue a dog compared to 19 percent who prefer the first family pick a purebred.

Shelters currently are overflowing with pets that were abandoned after their families lost their homes to foreclosure, so this is a great way to help dogs in need of a home. But even with the vast number of pets needing to be rescued, it could take many months until a purebred Labradoodle or Portuguese Water Dog becomes available through a shelter. Another option for the Obamas is to visit a purebred dog rescue. These organizations only take in dogs of a certain breed when their owners can't or won't care for them any longer.

Unfortunately, even after the Obamas find their family's newest member, Malia may still have problems with her allergies since no pet is completely hypoallergenic. While some dogs—like the Labradoodle and the Portuguese Water Dog—shed less than others, they all still shed a little and can aggravate allergies. So what can you do when your pet makes you sneeze? First of all, give your dog a bath. Then, try these five steps to help you live with your pet—and your allergies.