Local pup in Sunday's Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet

'Calvinator' is a lovable survivor

By: Sharon McBrayer | Hickory Daily Record
Published: February 06, 2011

HICKORY --

While you’re waiting for the Super Bowl to start Sunday you might want to turn your TV to Animal Planet to cheer on a local puppy that’s made the big time.
Calvin, a border terrier mix from Catawba County, is in the starting lineup of Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl VII. Animal Planet, in partnership with Petfinder.com, sponsors the bowl game, which starts at 3 p.m. Sunday.
The Puppy Bowl is a time for adoptable puppies from across the United States to show off their cuteness. During the game, puppies get to interact with each other and play with toys on an area designed to look like a football field.
It’s unclear what position Calvin will be playing but his hyper disposition will surely keep the opposition on their toes. According to his player stat on Animal Planet’s website, Calvin is a member of Oprah’s Book Club and was 15 weeks old when the bowl game was filmed.
While he’s a star now, he didn’t start out in the most glamorous of situations.
Calvin was one of five puppies in a litter that ended up at Catawba County Animal Services, said volunteer Rachel Johansen, who fostered him. He arrived in September when the shelter was closed because a disease had spread through the shelter, she said. The cause of the sickness was never determined, Johansen said.
When an e-mail arrived at county animal services from Petfinder. com asking for cute puppies that could play in the Puppy Bowl adoption campaign, Calvin was the obvious standout.
Animal Planet chose him, and he was on his way to New York for the big game.
The bowl game was filmed Oct. 15 in New York and by Oct. 19 Calvin had a permanent home.
He’s now four months older and is fitting right in with his new family, Anna and Ryan Grindstaff of Hickory.
“He’s great,” Anna Grindstaff said. “He’s very playful. We call him ‘the Calvinator.’”
Calvin joined the couple’s two children and their chocolate Labrador and boxer. Grindstaff said she never thought she would see a dog more hyperactive than their Labrador, until she met Calvin. That might be why the Labrador and Calvin have become close buddies.
“They’ll bark and howl in unison together,” Grindstaff said.
Like any proud family of a sports superstar, Grindstaff and her family plan to be glued to their TV on Sunday to root for Calvin to make a touchdown. They’re also hoping he will be named the game’s most valuable player.