Wild Thang won the ugliest dog contest in California
A new puppy living in the United States has taken the crown of the ugliest dog in the world.
Wild Thang won the 2024 World’s Ugliest Dog contest in Petaluma, California, this Friday.
Wild Thang, an 8 year old pekinese, has competed in the contest four previous times, coming in second place three times before finally winning first place this year.
The dog was born and raised in Los Angeles and recently moved to North Bend, Oregon.
According to his biography, Wild Thang contracted the canine distemper virus as a puppy from a rescue foster home.
“survivedbut not without permanent damage,” his bio says. “His teeth did not grow, causing his tongue to stick out and his right front leg to paddle 24/7.”
a happy dog
Aside from his physical problems, Wild Thang is “a guy healthy and happy of Glugly (glamorous/ugly),” his bio reads.
The animal and its owner, Ann Lewis, took home a check of 5,000 dollars.
NBC News’ Gadi Schwartz helped judge the 2024 contest, along with Linda Witong Abrahm, Brian Sobel, Amy Gutierrez and Fiona Ma.
Last year, a hairless Chinese puppy named Scooter took home the title. Scooter was born with deformed hind legs and his breeder turned him over to animal control for euthanasia. He was rescued by the rescue group Saving Animals From Euthanasia, of which his owner is a member, and now use a cart to help you walk.
He is 8 years old and in three previous competitions he had finished second (AP).The contest has been running for almost 50 years, according to the website for the Sonoma-Marin Fair, where the event is held. The annual contest focuses on celebrating the uniqueness of all dogs and the benefits of adoption.
“The annual World’s Ugliest Dog Contest is not about making fun of ‘ugly’ dogs,” the website says. “But having fun with some wonderful characters and showing the world that these dogs are really beautiful!” (ANSA).
