Wild Thang, an eight-year-old Pekingese from Oregon, won the 2024 World’s Ugliest Dog contest on his fifth attempt. The competition took place at the Sonoma Marin Fair in Petaluma, California.
… The contest aims to promote dog adoption regardless of appearance, with Wild Thang winning $5,000 and a feature on a limited-edition can of Mug Root Beer. Rome the pug and Daisy Mae also placed in the top three.
Last year’s runner up Wild Thang finally took this year’s crown in California’s World’s Ugliest Dog Contest! The 8-year-old Pekingese survived distemper but was left with some permanent damage, like a paddling front leg and a tongue that always sticks out. Apart from these issues, he’s a happy boy! Wild Thang and his owner Ann Lewis won $5,000 in prize money. Last year’s winner was a Chinese Crested dog named Scooter who was born with deformed legs and saved from a shelter. According to the contest’s website, the event “event celebrates the imperfections that make all dogs special and unique.”