In Petaluma, California, on June 21, an 8-year-old Pekingese named Wild Thang won the World’s Ugliest Dog 2024 competition. The contest was a part of the Sonoma-Marin Fair and featured eight participants, many of whom were rescued from shelters before finding their forever homes.
Wild Thang had competed in the contest five times before finally clinching the top prize this year. Originally from Los Angeles, Wild Thang recently relocated to North Bend, Oregon, to enjoy his retirement. Despite his past battle with canine distemper at only 10 weeks old that impacted the growth of his teeth and caused his tongue to stick out and resulted in a muscular disorder affecting one of his legs, Wild Thang’s unique appearance is what made him stand out as the winner of this prestigious competition.
The World’s Ugliest Dog competition has been running for nearly 50 years with the aim of celebrating the individuality and uniqueness of all dogs while highlighting their imperfections that make them special. The event is not meant to mock “ugly dogs” but rather to appreciate the charm of these lovable pets and showcase to the world that they are truly beautiful in their own way.
