At the annual World’s Ugliest Dog Contest, held at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, CA, the pedigree does not define the pet. Canine contestants gather amidst cotton candy stands and carnival rides to be celebrated for their idiosyncrasies – from extreme underbites to snaggle teeth.
We were on the scene at this year’s contest, where the energy was high and the stands were packed. Fans proudly showed off custom T-shirts of their favorite contestants and chanted their names as they walked the red carpet to take the stage.
Competition was stiff. Rome, a black, one-eyed, 14-year-old pug in a wheelchair, was an early favorite. But it was Wild Thang, an eight-year-old Pekingese with a mane of unkempt hair and a tongue that perpetually sticks out, who nabbed the first place trophy. As a puppy, Wild Thang contracted distemper, a virus that left him with permanent damage: His teeth never developed, causing his tongue to flop out, and his right front leg to paddle constantly. This was Wild Thang’s fifth time entering the contest and his first win.
Rome, who debuted at the contest this year, took home the second place prize and the People's Choice award. And the third place win went to Daisy Mae, a scraggly senior pooch who’s lost most of her fur, teeth, and vision. “I got her from a rescue when she was about two,” said Daisy Mae’s pet parent Elizabeth Whitehouse, holding her proudly. “She was very scared and shy, and now she’s a lovebug. It really shows you what love can do for a dog.”
