Watermelon Mountain Ranch dog first senior animal featured in Puppy Bowl

RIO RANCHO — People may have seen a local pup rescue in the 2025 Puppy Bowl Feb. 9, but she was no puppy.

Lizzie, a 9-year-old Schnauzer mix who loves a good nap and dog siblings her own speed from Watermelon Mountain Ranch, was the first senior featured in the Puppy Bowl.

“Given her senior status, Lizzie would do well in a gentle, mellow home to relax and enjoy her sunset years, as young children make her nervous. We might suggest an all-adult household. She does allow soft/gentle pets and has allowed us to dress her up. She walks on a leash and has a sweet disposition,” the Watermelon Mountain Ranch website says.

But this pup means more for dogs in shelters across the nation, according to Watermelon Executive Director Sara Heffern.

“This isn’t just important to Watermelon but also to senior pets throughout the nation. For us, having a New Mexico pet featured on a nationally televised platform is huge. It gives recognition to all of the hard work that has gone into Watermelon since 1996. It will also help us increase our reach and our life-saving work,” she said.

Lizzie, who has a stage four heart murmur, doesn’t currently require medication, but Heffern says she was the perfect dog to showcase for that reason.

“We were given the opportunity to feature a senior pet instead of a young puppy or kitten. This is huge for senior shelter pets as they are often overlooked and stay in the shelter system much longer,” she said.

Lizzie was a representation of that, according to Heffern.

“We wanted to find just the right senior for this opportunity, a sweet disposition, maybe not the easiest back story, and really a dog that may not do well in the traditional shelter. We spent almost six weeks finding just the right dog. Just under the deadline, Lizzie came to our attention, and I knew she was perfect for it,” she said.