Wild Thang, an 8-year-old Pekingese, has been declared the winner of the 2024 World’s Ugliest Dog contest in Petaluma, California.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Wild Thang recently retired to North Bend, Oregon.
This year’s contest, held during the 2024 Sonoma-Marin Fair on Friday, featured eight contestants, most of whom were rescued dogs who had appeared in shelters before finding their permanent homes. The entries included a combination of Chinese Crested dogs, Pugs and Chihuahuas.
Wild Thang suffered from a contagious and serious illness
- Wild Thang has competed in the World’s Ugliest Dog contest five times, but this was her victory.
- The dog’s unusual appearance was due to a condition in which he contracted canine distemper at just 10 weeks old. The disease caused him to lose his teeth, which leaves him with a hanging tongue and a muscle imbalance in one of his legs.
- According to Wild Thang’s bio, “He survived, but not without permanent damage. He lost his teeth, which leaves him with a hanging tongue and his right front leg paddling 24/7.”
- Despite the physical problems, he is “a healthy, happy gluggly (glamorous/ugly) boy,” the bio states.
The World’s Ugliest Dog contest has been taking place for the past 50 years. The purpose of the contest is not to make fun of ‘ugly’ dogs, but to show the world that these dogs are truly beautiful. According to its website, it “celebrates the imperfections that make all dogs special and unique.”
As the winners of the contest, Wild Thang and his owner Ann Lewis will receive a $5,000 prize on NBC’s The Today Show.
Learn about the other contestants and last year’s winner
Rom, a 14-year-old pug who uses a wheelchair, took second place and won $3,000. Rome was making his first appearance in the contest.
Rome’s owner, Michelle Grady, told BBC News, “I like that [the contest] represents dogs who are imperfect — imperfectly perfect.”
Daisy May, a 14-year-old mixed-breed rescue dog with a white coat who competed for the first time in the competition, placed third and will receive $2,000.
She was rescued from the streets at age two and has lost her sight, teeth and hair.
Last year’s winner was Scooter, a hairless Chinese Crested puppy who walks with the help of a cart. Deformed from birth, Scooter’s owner gave him to animal control to be euthanized. He is now being cared for by the Saving Animals From Euthanasia rescue group.