Unforgettable Tails: Celebrating the Unusual Beauty and Resilience of Ugliest Dog Contest Winners

The World’s Ugliest Dog contest was held at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California, and featured a number of unique canine contestants. Wild Thang, an 8-year-old Pekingese, won the competition after years of participating. Despite facing health challenges as a puppy that left him with permanent damage including undeveloped teeth and a constantly paddling leg, Wild Thang’s unique appearance and heartwarming story captured the judges’ hearts, earning him the $5,000 prize.

Rome, a 14-year-old one-eyed pug, took second place in the competition. Despite his physical challenges, Rome enjoys life to the fullest and makes valuable contributions to his community. Many of the dogs in the contest are rescues who have overcome adversity and now bring joy to those around them.

One of the contestants, Ozzie, a terrier mix, has made significant contributions to his community by helping raise money for rescue efforts. Daisy Mae, a third-place finisher in the competition also makes positive impact on her community by being a beloved rescue pet who demonstrates that beauty comes in many forms and that rescue pets can make a positive impact on the world.