In 2024, an eight-year-old Pekingese named Wild Thang won the World’s Ugliest Dog competition at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California. There were eight competitors in total, most of whom were rescues from shelters. Wild Thang, who is from Coos Bay, Oregon, had been a competitor five times before finally winning this year.
The unique appearance of Wild Thang can be traced back to a case of canine distemper he experienced as a 10-week-old puppy. The disease caused him not to grow teeth and resulted in his signature dangling tongue. He also has a muscular disorder in one of his legs. Despite his unconventional appearance, Wild Thang’s owner, Ann Lewis, is proud of him and thrilled about their win.
The World’s Ugliest Dog competition has been running for almost 50 years and aims to celebrate the unique qualities that make each dog special. Wild Thang and Ann Lewis will receive a prize of $5,000 and will appear on NBC’s The Today Show to celebrate their victory. In second place was a 14-year-old pug named Rome, who uses a wheelchair. Rome’s owner, Michelle Grady, expressed her love for the competition and how it highlights the beauty of dogs who may not fit traditional standards of perfection.
