Wild Thang, an eight-year-old Pekingese, has been crowned the winner of the 2024 World’s Ugliest Dog competition. The event, held during the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California, featured eight contenders, most of whom were rescue dogs that found loving homes after coming from shelters.
Hailing from Coos Bay, Oregon, Wild Thang had competed five times in previous World’s Ugliest Dog competitions, but this was his first victory.
His unique appearance is due to canine distemper, a disease he contracted as a 10-week-old puppy. This illness prevented his teeth from growing, causing his tongue to dangle, and led to a muscular disorder in one of his legs.
The World’s Ugliest Dog competition, held for nearly 50 years, aims to “celebrate the imperfections that make all dogs special and unique.” Wild Thang and his owner, Ann Lewis, will receive $5,000 and appear on NBC’s The Today Show.
Rome, a 14-year-old pug in a wheelchair, came in second place and won $3,000. This was Rome’s first time participating in the contest. “I love that [the competition] represents dogs that are imperfect — imperfectly perfect,” said Rome’s owner, Michelle Grady.
Daisy May, another first-time entrant and a 14-year-old mixed-breed rescue dog, won third place and received $2,000. Rescued from the streets at two years old, Daisy May has lost her hair, teeth, and vision. Her owner, Elizabeth Whitehouse, was pleasantly surprised by their podium finish.
“I thought that she would be the most beautiful ugly dog, but as it turns out, other people don’t see the beauty in her that I do,” she said. Fans could also vote online for a special dog to receive the People’s Choice Award, which went to Rome, the judges’ runner-up.
The annual contest emphasizes the importance of adopting all animals. It’s not about making fun of “ugly” dogs but celebrating their unique qualities and showing the world that these dogs are truly beautiful.
This year’s judges included NBC News correspondent Gadi Schwartz, human rights advocate Linda Witong Abrahm, and California 34th Treasurer Fiona Ma. The entries included Chihuahua mixes, Chinese Crested mixes, and Pug mixes.
Freddie Mercury, a rescue dog making his debut in the contest this year, missed out on a prize. Described as having “a face like a forklift,” Freddie is a beloved mascot for Petaluma’s local ice cream truck and attends youth football games and birthday parties.
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