An eight-year-old male Pekingese named Wild Thang reigned supreme at the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest held last June 21 at the 2024 Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, Calif.
Celebrating “the imperfections that make all dogs special and unique,” the annual contest awarded the pooch from North Bend, Ore—in all its moppy-hair-tongue-out glory—the top spot after five years as a contestant. The event organizers say the contest “is not about making fun of “ugly” dogs, but having fun with some wonderful characters…”
Wild Thang is reported to have contracted canine distemper as a rescue puppy and “barely” survived. His “unique” features are permanent damage caused by a bout with the virus. “His teeth did not grow in, causing his tongue to stay out and his right front leg paddles 24/7,” reads his contest profile. “Other than that, he is a healthy, happy Glugly (glamourous/ugly) guy.”
In an Instagram account, Wild Thang’s owners shares about his life to promote pet vaccination, as well as help raise funds to bring Pekingese in the Ukraine war zone back to safety.
For more information on the contest, visit the Sonoma-Marin Fair website.