Puppies gear up for own Games

The Games begin Aug. 8 -- the Puppy Games, that is.

After scoring big with “Puppy Bowl,” which aired concurrently with the Super Bowl, Animal Planet on Thursday announced that it was expanding the franchise with “Puppy Games 2008,” a three-hour special that will air the same night as the Olympics opening ceremony.

More than 30 puppies representing different countries -- most of them hailing from Washington, D.C., shelters -- will “compete” in sports such as dog paddling, soccer and gymnastics. A modified version of the special will air Aug. 23, the same weekend as the Olympics closing ceremony.

-- Matea Gold