PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA – An eight-year-old Pekingese named Wild Thang has captured the title of the World’s Ugliest Dog at the annual competition held during the 2024 Sonoma-Marin Fair. The event showcased eight contenders, many of whom were rescues from shelters.
Wild Thang, hailing from Coos Bay, Oregon, had previously participated in the competition five times but clinched his first victory this year. His unique appearance is a result of a case of canine distemper he suffered as a young puppy, which affected the growth of his teeth, resulting in a dangling tongue, and caused a muscular disorder in one of his legs.
The World’s Ugliest Dog contest, in existence for nearly five decades, celebrates the beauty in imperfection and uniqueness among all dogs. The competition’s website emphasizes the importance of embracing the individuality of every canine participant.
Wild Thang and his owner, Ann Lewis, will be awarded $5,000 and will be featured on NBC’s The Today Show. In second place was a wheelchair-bound 14-year-old pug named Rome, who will receive a $3,000 prize. Rome’s owner, Michelle Grady, expressed her appreciation for the event’s celebration of imperfectly perfect dogs.
A 14-year-old mixed breed rescue dog named Daisy May secured the third-place title, earning $2,000. Daisy May, who lost her hair, teeth, and vision after being rescued from the streets, surprised her owner, Elizabeth Whitehouse, by achieving a podium position.
The competition also included online voting for the People’s Choice Award, which went to Rome, the judges’ runner-up. The overall aim of the contest is to promote the adoption of all animals and to showcase the beauty in diversity among dogs of all shapes and sizes.
Judges for this year’s competition included NBC News correspondent Gadi Schwartz, human rights advocate Linda Witong Abrahm, and California 34th Treasurer Fiona Ma. The diverse lineup of contestants featured various breeds, including Chihuahua mixes, Chinese Crested mixes, and Pug mixes, highlighting the unique characteristics of each dog.
Among the participants was Freddie Mercury, a rescue dog making his contest debut, known for his distinctive appearance resembling “a face like a fork-lift.” Despite not receiving a prize, Freddie Mercury garners attention as a mascot for Petaluma’s local ice cream truck, attending youth football games and birthday parties upon special request.