MEET WILD THANG, VOTED WORLD’S UGLIEST DOG
Source: BBC (Extract)
Posted: June 22, 2024
In this year’s World’s Ugliest Dog competition at the 2024 Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California, Wild Thang, an eight-year-old Pekingese from Coos Bay, Oregon, claimed victory.
Despite participating in five previous competitions, this marks Wild Thang’s first win. His distinct appearance, characterized by a protruding tongue caused by canine distemper during puppyhood, along with a muscular disorder in one leg, captured the judges’ attention.
The event, which has been a tradition for nearly 50 years, embraces the unique qualities of dogs, celebrating what makes each one special. This year, eight contestants, most of whom were rescues from shelters, competed for the title.
Wild Thang and his owner, Ann Lewis, will receive a $5,000 prize and will be featured on NBC’s The Today Show. Second place went to Rome, a 14-year-old pug in a wheelchair, who entered the competition for the first time and will receive $3,000.
“I love that [the competition] represents dogs that are imperfect — imperfectly perfect,” Rome’s owner Michelle Grady said.
Daisy May, a 14-year-old mixed breed rescue dog with a white coat, claimed the third-place title in her debut at the World’s Ugliest Dog competition. Rescued from the streets at two years old, Daisy May has faced challenges including hair loss, tooth loss, and vision impairment.
Elizabeth Whitehouse, Daisy May’s owner, expressed surprise at their podium finish, saying, “I always thought she was the most beautiful ugly dog, but it seems others don’t see the beauty in her like I do.”
In addition to the main competition, fans had the opportunity to vote online for the People’s Choice Award, which was awarded to Rome, the judges’ runner-up.
The annual contest aims to highlight the importance of adopting all animals and stresses that it’s not about mocking “ugly” dogs. Instead, the event celebrates these unique characters and underscores that these dogs are truly beautiful in their own way.
The panel of judges for this year’s competition featured NBC News correspondent Gadi Schwartz, human rights advocate Linda Witong Abrahm, and California’s 34th Treasurer Fiona Ma.
Among the diverse entries this year were Chihuahua mixes, Chinese Crested mixes, and Pug mixes. One notable contestant, Freddie Mercury, a rescue dog making his debut in the competition, did not secure a prize. Known for his distinctive appearance described as “a face like a fork-lift,” Freddie Mercury leads an active life as the mascot for a local ice cream truck in Petaluma.
In addition to his duties as a mascot, Freddie Mercury is a regular presence at youth football games and is often requested for birthday parties, showcasing his popularity and charm within the community.