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Wild Thang Finally Wins World’s Ugliest Dog Title at Californian Competition

Wild Tang the ugliest dog competition winner. Image by NEWS CENTER Maine on YouTube.

Read all the way to the end – we save the one detail most people never think about for last.

After five attempts, Wild Thang, an eight-year-old Pekingese, was crowned the world’s ugliest dog.

Sonoma-Marin Fair Hosts Competition

sheepdog
Old English Sheepdog. Image via Depositphotos
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The event took place at the 2024 Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California.

A Field of Seven Competitors

The ugliest dog competition. Image by NEWS CENTER Maine on YouTube.
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Wild Thang competed against seven other dogs, most of whom were rescues.

A Journey From Shelters to Stardom

Wild Tang the ugliest dog competition winner. Image by NEWS CENTER Maine on YouTube.
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Many contestants had humble beginnings in shelters before finding their forever homes.

Ann Lewis and Wild Thang’s Victory

Wild Tang the ugliest dog competition winner. Image by NEWS CENTER Maine on YouTube.
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Wild Thang’s owner, Ann Lewis, was thrilled with their win.

Prize Money and Media Appearance

Ugly dog. Image via Unsplash.
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They received $5,000 and an appearance on NBC’s The Today Show.

Rome, the Runner-Up

Rome the runner up. Image by NEWS CENTER Maine on YouTube.
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A 14-year-old pug in a wheelchair named Rome took second place.

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Rome’s First Competition

Ugly dog. Image via Unsplash.
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This was Rome’s debut in the World’s Ugliest Dog contest.

Runner-Up Prize

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Image via Pixabay
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Rome’s second-place finish earned them $3,000.

A Unique Event Celebrating Imperfections

Pug the top ten ugly dogs
Ugly dog. Image via Unsplash.
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The contest celebrates the unique imperfections of each dog.

Wild Thang’s Distinctive Looks

Portrait cute and funny puppy dog with sweet eyes. Isolated on yellow background. Ugly dog. Image via depsoitphotos.
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Wild Thang’s distinctive appearance set him apart from the competition.

Owner’s Dedication Pays Off

Ugly dog. Image via depsoitphotos.
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Ann Lewis’s dedication and persistence paid off after five tries.

Joy and Recognition

Ugly dog. Image via depsoitphotos.
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The win brought joy and recognition to Wild Thang and his owner.

Media Spotlight

Ugly dog. Image via depsoitphotos.
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The competition and winners receive significant media attention.

A Heartwarming Story

Ugly dog. Image via depsoitphotos.
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The event highlights heartwarming stories of rescue and transformation.

Wild Thang’s Personality Shines

Ugly dog. Image via depsoitphotos.
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Despite his appearance, Wild Thang’s personality shone through.

Community and Celebration

Ugly dog. Image via depsoitphotos.
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The event brings together a community of dog lovers to celebrate their pets.

Encouraging Adoption

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The contest encourages the adoption of less conventionally attractive dogs.

A Memorable Victory

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Ugly dog. Image via Pexels.
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Wild Thang’s victory will be remembered by his fans and owner.

Looking Forward to Future Competitions

Chihuahua the top 10 ugly dogs
Ugly dog. Image via pexels.
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The competition continues to look forward to celebrating more unique dogs in the future. I hope you enjoyed reading about the winner of the ugly dog contest. To read more stories like this, check out the article below:

Latest posts by Alana Theron, BSc in Biodiversity and Ecology (see all)