Most of us would agree that all dogs are cute, right? The World’s Ugliest Dog contest was held at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California, last week (August 8), and even the canines vying to win here all had a certain charm.
Petunia, a hairless Bulldog, was crowned the winner, so she’s hopefully receiving plenty of the best dog treats as a reward. The two-year-old English–French Bulldog mix is the latest winner of the annual contest, and gets $5,000 and the opportunity to appear on limited-edition cans of Mug Root Bear, too.
Petunia and her dog mom, Shannon Nyman, made the journey south from Eugene, Oregon. The New York Times reported that she was rescued from “a backyard breeder and hoarder” in Las Vegas and brought to Oregon by Luvable Dog Rescue. She required surgery to correct an elongated palate, a condition that affects breathing and eating and is more common in brachycephalic, or flat-faced breeds.
She is a “gentle soul who adores other dogs, cats, and people, “ per The New York Times.
The contest, which “celebrates the imperfections that make all dogs special and unique,” has been running for almost 50 years. Among the other contenders this year were eight-year-old Chinese Crested Little Prince Wonder and Chihuahua Nezumi, 13.
Last year’s winner was an eight-year-old Pekingese, Wild Thang, with organizers saying at the time, “Despite facing numerous challenges, including surviving distemper as a puppy, Wild Thang has emerged as a healthy and happy ‘glugly’ [glamorous/ugly] guy.”
The distemper stopped his teeth from growing in, which means that his tongue stays out of his mouth.
The year before, Scooter, a seven-year-old Chinese Crested with mohawk-like hair, was the winner. He was born with deformed legs and used a cart to help him get around. In 2022, meanwhile, the Chihuahua mix Mr Happy Face was crowned the ugliest dog.
Then there’s Peggy. A cross between a Chihuahua and a Chinese Crested, she won the title of Britain’s Ugliest Dog in 2023 and became a famous dog in her native UK. Last year, she even appeared in Marvel’s Deadpool & Wolverine as Dogpool, winning two Fidos Awards and walking the red carpet with Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman at the movie’s premiere in London.
If you’d like to enter your own pup into the World’s Ugliest Dog contest next year, you can do so on the Sonoma-Marin Fair’s website, where more information for next year’s contest will be shared nearer the time.
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