GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) -
The cutest faces and the loudest barks are behind a friendly competition.
"The last time I checked it was 79 dogs and 29 cats," said marketing specialist at the Humane Society of South Mississippi Krystyna Szczechowski.
Szczechowski said this inaugural Super Adoption Bowl is pitting dogs against cats to see which species will have more adoptions.
Adoption fees are only $11 and the competition has become popular on social media.
"People have picked teams, changed their profile picture to team cat or team dog and have been the posters to get more and more animals adopted," said Szczechowki.
"Team dog, definitely," said Humane Society volunteer Justine Wallace.
Wallace adopted a dog last year, and she encourages others to jump onboard the pup wagon.
"They just want someone to love them. They just want somewhere to call home you know, save a life," said Wallace.
"Oh, look at the kitty!" said 3-year-old Taylor Rice in wonder.
Taylor said dogs and cats are tied in her book.
"I got a dog and a cat," said Taylor.
With every meow and bark, she was instantly in love.
"This one's my favorite," said Taylor.
Taylor didn't leave with a new pet, but she said if she could she would have taken them all home.
That's the spirit that Szczechowki said is making adoption numbers skyrocket.
This January, the Humane Society of South Mississippi had 100 more adoptions than they did in January of 2012.
While people anxiously await the big game, there's another competition with a different face that begs the question, which team represents which animal?
"The 49ers are cats and the Ravens are the dogs," said Szczechowki.
With a bark, a jump and a look, the competition gets heated.
The Super Adoption Bowl ends Monday at 6pm.
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